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AFC HORNCHURCH 1 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 1
Carshalton started confidently and won two corners in quick succession, one being cleared by Ronnie Fletcher, with Reiss Noel dealing with the second. The visitors could have taken an early lead when Tony Finn gained possession, ran forward and sent in a magnificent shot, which resulted in a save of similar proportions by Joe Woolley, who fingertipped the ball around the post for another corner.
The first chance for Hornchurch came when Les Thompson fired wide from a Lewis Smith cross, and then it was back to the other end where the increasingly dangerous Tony Finn was stopped by a timely Rickie Hayles tackle. Hornchurch came more into the match as an attacking force and Thompson combined with Smith and Hayles to send a good pass into the middle to Martin Tuohy, whose goal bound shot was blocked by David Ray. Smith next played Tuohy clear but Martin could not get in a telling shot, having to hoot quickly when under pressure from a defender. Frankie Curley provided an opening for Lewis Smith, who ran forward, drew Nick Hamann off his line, but placed his shot narrowly wide of the post.
A Jon Hunt corner looked dangerous, but the ball was played up field to Finn, who raced towards goal and hit his shot wide of the post. And soon afterwards, it was Paul Vines who almost broke through, but was tackled by Ronnie Fletcher. Simon Gayle and Joe Anderson exchanged passes to give Jon Hunt an opening, but he was crowded out and could not get his shot in., and Anderson was again in action, this time covering well to prevent Luke Nolan from getting in a shot.
Reiss Noel intercepted when Finn almost broke through on the left, but was surprisingly booked for what was considered to be a foul, although he had taken the ball cleanly. Tom Davis played the free kick short to Finn, who was again thwarted by Noel. The only goal of the half came in controversial circumstances, and the free kick which led to the goal appeared to be an incorrect decision. But the ball was played into the area and Joe Woolley came out confidently to gather, only for the ball to rebound off his chest. And as Woolley went to grab the ball JUSTYN ROBERTS got there first to hook it into the net.
The second half saw Hornchurch dominate for long periods, and Hunt almost levelled when he ran on to a Smith pass, only for Michael Kamara to tackle and concede a corner. Hunt sent the ball over and Hayles’ header was scrambled to safety. Tuohy headed wide from Smith’s centre and Curley went close from a Hunt corner. The ball was blocked on the line and the visitors survived two loud hand ball appeals as the ball bobbled around the goal mouth.
A well struck free kick at the other end gave Finn a shooting chance but Fletcher blocked the shot. Hornchurch drew level when Lewis Smith made the opening, and FRANKIE CURLEY fired a first time shot past an almost motionless defence.
Hunt hen sent over a well flighted corner which Hamann did well to stop, and Tommy Black came on for Les Thompson. Black almost broke through on the right when he ran on to a Smith pass, whilst at the other end a corner sailed across the goal with no one anywhere even close to getting a touch. Tuohy could have put Hornchurch ahead but his shot cannoned off a defender. Aaron Gayle came on for Tuohy, and keeper Hamann twice caught dangerous inswinging corners from Jon Hunt, who was then replaced by Andy Tomlinson.
For Carshalton Anthony Joseph came on and twice threatened on the right, but was dispossessed by Anderson on both occasions. With time running out, Andy Tomlinson broke through and his shot cannoned off a defender, to Aaron Gayle, whose follow up shot met the same fate. The ball ran loose to Frankie Curley, who homed in and his shot went inches wide of the post, as the referee signalled the end of the match.
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