The Urchins suffered their first friendly defeat of the season as they went down by the odd goal in 5 to Bostik premier side Kingstonian. Following a goalless first half the second period burst into life with 2 quick fire goals before Hornchurch nudged ahead. Kingstonian responded and 2 late goals sealed their victory.
Monday 31-July-2017
KINGSTONIAN 3 HORNCHURCH 2
KFC – Aaron Bufton – James Haran – Aaron Goode – Rokas Janilionis (Manolis Gogonas 80) – Sam Page – Ricky Sappleton (Josh Antonio 72) – Alec Fiddes – Lewis Taylor – Tom Derry – Charlie Taylor – Joe Turner
Subs – Josh Antonio – Kai North – Dujon Desagurante – Sonny Black – Will Seager – Jerson Dos Santos – Mo Otoyo
HFC – Sam Mott – Jamie Hursit – Alex Bentley – Kenzer Lee – Paul Goodacre – Elliot Styles – Theo Fairweather-Johnson – Jed Chouman – Ross Wall – George Purcell – Tobi Joseph
Subs –
Sean Roberts for Hursit 62
Jay Porter for Bentley 66
Bradley Warner for Purcell 66
Taj Hussain for Joseph 73
Gary Cohen for Styles 73
Manny Sackey for Chouman 73
Martin Tuohy for Wall 76
Played at Leatherhead FC
Scorers – Derry 47 (K) – Purcell 49 (H) – Wall 65 (H) – Charlie Taylor 81 (K) – Turner 83 (K)
Attendance 104
KINGSTONIAN 3 HORNCHURCH 2
Kingstonian found themselves homeless after the sale of their ground, and this season they are playing their home matches at Leatherhead. This may well have affected the attendance of just 104 paying spectators.
Kingstonian started powerfully and forced four corners inside he opening five minutes, but the Hornchurch defence held firm and Sam Mott was not called upon to make a save.
Hornchurch settled down and on eleven minutes Alex Bentley made ground before crossing to George Purcell, only for his hard shot to go wide of the goal.
Two minutes later and Hornchurch came close to scoring, when Purcell turned inside the defender, and crossed to Ross Wall, but his first time volley rose a fraction too high.
On 15 minutes Kingstonian attacked down the left flank, and Jamie Hursit ably dealt with the resulting cross.
Hornchurch were now causing the home defence a few problems, and Wall fed the ball through the home defence to Purcell, but he sliced his shot wide of the goal.
On 28 minutes Joe Turner eluded Hursit and made tracks towards goal, and his hard shot went just wide of the post.
Two minutes later the Ks again went close, when Sam Page played a good pass through to Charlie Taylor, who quickly controlled the ball, but sent his shot wide.
Hornchurch created two chances on the 34 minute mark – Aaron Bufton could not hold a Purcell shot, and the ball ran loose, with Theo Fairweather-Johnson just failing to connect. Tobi Joseph then sent in a good effort that was blocked by a defender.
Five minutes before the interval, Charlie Taylor slipped the ball through to Joe Turner, and his shot was deflected over by Hursit for a corner, which was comfortably cleared.
Kingstonian took the lead two minutes into the second half, when a hard drive came back off the bar to Tom Derry, who sidefooted the rebound into the net.
Two minutes later Hornchurch drew level, when the ball was played down the line to George Purcell, who cut inside and fired his shot hard into the net.
On 53 minutes Purcell again broke through but was crowded out before he could get in a shot.
It was now time for changes, and Sean Roberts, signed during the summer from Cray Wanderers, made his first appearance for Hornchurch, having missed the earlier games through injury.
Three minutes later, Purcell won the ball, and played a square pass to Ross Wall, who promptly deposited the ball into the net to give Hornchurch the lead.
Manager Jim McFarlane promptly made two more changes, bringing on Jay Porter forAlex Bentley and Bradley Warner for the hard-working George Purcell.
Warner was involved almost immediately, putting in a hard shot which was charged down, the ball running out for a corner, which fell invitingly to Tobi Joseph, but he fired his shot wide of the post.
Joseph, Elliot Styles and Jed Chouman were then replaced by Taj Hussain, Gary Cohen and Manny Sackey, and shortly afterwards Martin Tuohy came on in place of Ross Wall.
Nine minutes from time Charlie Taylor headed the equaliser from a right wing cross, and two minutes later Kingstonian went ahead when Joe Turner turned inside the area to shoot past Mott, for what proved to be the winning goal.