Report

A goal in each half from George Purcell gave the Urchins a well earned win against an excellent Haringey Borough. It was Hornchurch’s 4th straight win and maintains the 13 point lead at the top of the table.

Saturday 10-February-2018
HORNCHURCH 2 HARINGEY BOROUGH 1

HFC – Mott, Hursit, Porter, Styles ©, Cooper, Roberts (Hogan 75), Fairweather-Johnson, Livings, McKenzie (Assombalonga 73), Purcell, Joseph (Bentley 64)
Subs – Lee, Warner

HB – Pajetat, Olufemi ©, O’Donoghue, Gordon (Djassi-Sambu 13), Mitchell, Yiga, Stone, Richards, Gabriel , Staunton (Ademiluyi 70), McDonald
Subs – Appiah, Edwards, Byfield

Officials – James Hurst with Hossain Tavakkoli and Bobby Kwatt

Scorers – Purcell 28 (H) – Purcell 73 (H) – Stone 86 (HB)
Booking – McKenzie 52 (H)
Attendance 158
Duration 47.00 + 48.00

HORNCHURCH 2 HARINGEY BOROUGH 1

Hornchurch took time to adapt to the very wet and heavy playing surface, but two goals from George Purcell put them into a commanding position, before Haringey pulled a goal back late in the second half.

Hornchurch were without Olumide Oluwatimilehin, and Kenzer Lee and Brad Warner were also nursing injuries and were unable to start, although named as substitutes should the need arise.

Haringey had the better of the first half, and had an opportunity to take the lead in the first minute when Antony McDonald sent in a long-range shot, that cleared the bar.

Haringey then lost Quba Gordon with an injury, but continued to press, when Joseph Staunton played a corner to McDonald, whose cross went wide of the far post.

Chances were limited, although Elliot Styles had to move sharply to block a Ralston Gabriel shot, deflecting the ball out for a corner, and it was Hornchurch who took the lead on 28 minutes, when George Purcell was fouled ten yards outside the area. Nathan Livings lurked, but it was Purcell who stepped up to take the free kick, curling the ball past the defensive wall and into the net.

Jorge Djassi-Sambu had a scoring chance for the visitors, but directed his shot high and over, and when McDonald fed a pass through to Lionel Stone, Livings reacted quickly to concede a corner. Haringey kept up the pressure and Ralston Gabriel fired across the face of the goal.

Hornchurch came back strongly, with a Purcell shot that was deflected for a corner, and although Livings got to the ball as it came over the visiting defence scrambled the ball away.

As half time approached, Valery Pajetat saved from Purcell and again from Theo Fairweather-Johnson.

A minute into the second half Rakim Richards sent in a hurried shot that went wide, but Hornchurch began to take control, with Pajetat having to race off his line to kick clear from Tobi Joseph, and Pajetat was again in action, saving as Leon McKenzie moved in, with McKenzie somewhat harshly receiving a yellow card for his challenge on the keeper.

Haringey had by now lost their earlier momentum, Hornchurch increased their lead on 73 minutes, when Sean Roberts played the ball out to Theo Fairweather-Johnson, who flicked on to George Purcell, who in turn neatly lobbed the ball over Pajetat as he rushed out of goal.

Chris Assombalonga replaced McKenzie, and Connor Hogan, signed from Aveley during the week, came on for Roberts. Pajetat saved from Purcell and then from an Assombalonga header from a Jamie Hursit centre.

At the other end Mott saved well from Michael Ademilluyi, turning the shot around the post, but Haringey pulled a goal back four minutes from time when Lionel Stone prodded the ball home after Mott had failed to hold a shot from the right.

As the match entered stoppage time Rakim Richards scooped a shot over the bar from close range, and Assombalonga set out on a weaving run past two defenders, his shot being deflected for a corner.

This proved to be the last move of the match as the final whistle went shortly afterwards, and Hornchurch maintained their thirteen points lead at the top of the table.