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HARROW BOROUGH1 HORNCHURCH 1
Lewis Smith was serving a one match suspension for receiving five bookings, and Andy Tomlinson came into the squad, having returned to Hornchurch after a spell at Brentwood. Les Thompson came into the starting line up along with Jon Hunt. Hornchurch had the strong downfield wind in their favour in the first half, and could have taken an early lead when a long Rickie Hayles throw sent Les Thompson clear on the right. Les crossed into the centre, and Martin Tuohy got in a first time shot which Nick Pope could only parry, and the ball was eventually scrambled away0to safety.
Gary Jones had an opportunity with a free kick for Harrow but his high centre was easily headed away by Reiss Noel, and the ball was played up field to Michael Spencer who was brought down. Jon Hunt took the free kick and the ball was deflected narrowly past the post for a corner. Hunt sent the kick over and Pope rose well to punch clear as the ball curled goalwards. But Hornchurch maintained the pressure and won another corner. Hunt again sent the ball over from the left, and ELLIOT STYLES rose well to head home, with Martin Tuohy diving full length to help it over the line just to make sure.
Joe Anderson began a good move on the left with a long pass to Thompson who touched the ball inside to Hunt, who ran on, past Sebastian Schuburgh, and fired his shot past Pope but into the side netting. A goal looked likely when Thompson headed a Spencer cross towards the top corner, but Pope rose well to touch the ball over the bar. for a corner, and shortly afterwards Rickie Hayles crashed the ball into the net from a Les Thompson pass but was given offside. Harrow had few chances in the first half, the best of which fell to Mo Habu, whose shot on the turn was well saved by Joe Woolley.
Martin Tuohy sent Les Thomson away on the right and Pope did well to save the resulting shot. In a rare Harrow attack Lee Wootton rounded Joe Anderson and cut in towards goal but hit his shot wide of the far post. Shortly before half time Evandro Delgado found himself clear and heading towards goal, until a timely tackle by Reiss Noel intervened.
Harrow had the strong wind in their favour in the second half, but it was Hornchurch who could have increased their lead when Frankie Curley touched on to Michael Spencer, whose through ball was grabbed at the edge of the area by Pope as Martin Tuohy homed in at speed. And Reiss Noel created a chance out of nothing when he intercepted a pass on the half way line, powered through, but hit his shot too high and over the bar.
Joe Woolley saved well from a Gary Jones free kick after Frankie Curley had been penalised, and an Elliot Styles tackle led to a half hearted appeal for a penalty. But seconds later Simon Glover conceded a free kick ten yards out. Gary Jones took the kick and floated the ball over, and QUINCY ROWE, unmarked, headed home, before racing to the touchline to receive the accolades from the home supporters in the crowd of just 123, and then stopping suddenly when he realised that they were Hornchurch supporters.
Quincy Rowe was then called into action at the other end to intercept when Michael Spencer almost broke through from a Glover pass, but Harrow enjoyed a spell of possession and won a free kick when Glover misjudged a tackle. With most expecting Gary Jones to take the kick, it was Schuburgh who instead stepped up, and he fired the ball high over the bar, and out of the ground, over the houses and into the general direction of Northolt aerodrome, where it disappeared into the night. And when Styles again mistimed a tackle, it was Jones who took the free kick, and Woolley touched it around the post for a corner.
It was time for a change – three in fact, and Aaron Gayle, Dave McSweeney and Tambeson Eyong all came on. And the Harrow onslaught was quickly stemmed, as Hornchurch again took command in midfield. Aaron Gayle almost broke through but was pulled down on the edge of the area. Spencer took the free kick, and Styles headed inches wide, for a corner – yes, a corner. Spencer took the corner and a defender headed off for a goal kick – yes a goal kick. So what wasn’t was, and what was, wasn’t.
Anderson played through to Glover, who was sent crashing to the ground on the edge of the area, but no action was taken, whilst a Spencer cross led to a Spencer corner, which Wayne Walters cleared. Tambeson Eyong went on one of his tradition runs through the middle, but Pope saved well. And in the last few seconds of stoppage time Tuohy and Spencer combined to set Eyong up, but Tambeson sent his shot high and over.
So it is back to the Bridge on Tuesday, which means that the match at Thurrock is off.
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