Report

The Urchins made a number of changes ahead of their Velocity Trophy 1st Round tie but a 20th minute Martin Tuohy strike paved the way for a very good win as Fanimo, Purcell (2) and Fairweather-Johnson added to the scoring.

Tuesday 19-September-2017
HORNCHURCH 5 AVELEY 1

HFC – Mott, Hursit, Porter, Kamara, Cooper, Roberts, Fairweather-Johnson, Hussain, Tuohy, Purcell, Fanimo
Subs – McKenzie – Warner – Lee – Chouman

AFC – Madden, Dicks, Woodward, Twumasi, Okah, Coyne (Onokwai 60), Watrkins, Barry (Isherwood 45), Bolle, Cook (West 70), Gleed
Subs – Watson – Peart

Scorers – Tuohy 20 (H) – Fanimo 29 (H) – Bolle 37 (A) – Purcell 39 (H) – Purcell 63 (H) – Fairweather-Johnson 89 (H)

Attendance 98

HORNCHURCH 5 AVELEY 1

It was an unusual looking Hornchurch line-up that took the field for the league cup match against Aveley. Manager Jim McFarlane included some of the squad players in the starting line up, including starting debuts for Mohamed Kamara, who was a non-playing substitute at Hertford on Saturday, and Matthias Fanimo, who has twice made brief appearances as substitute. Taj Hussain was also included in the starting line up, having featured for most of last season as a squad player, but only having had one previous start, at Enfield Town in the League Cup. And Martin Tuohy made his first start of the season.

Hornchurch had the first scoring chance on 9 minutes, when Rhys Madden saved well from Nathan Cooper’s header, when he outjumped the defence to reach a Matthias Fanimo corner kick.

A minute later it was the turn of Sam Mott to spring into action, making an excellent save from Harry Cook.

Aveley pressed strongly, and twice went close, with a header that went over the bar and a shot that flashed across the face of the goal.

On 21 minutes Hornchurch took the lead, when a move down the middle found Martin Tuohy who glided the ball home.

On 29 minutes Mohamed Kamara played a fine pass out of defence to George Purcell, who quickly turned inside, but Madden made a good save to keep the ball out of the net.

But Aveley fell further behind a minute later, when Tuohy sent the ball over, Madden could not retain possession, and Fanimo was first to react to place the ball into the net.

On 37 minutes Aveley pulled a goal back, when Adam Bolle fired home, but Hornchurch regained their two goal advantage two minutes later, when Tuohy made the running, and pulled the ball back into the middle for George Purcell to fire home.

Aveley made the first substitution of the match at half time, Jack Isherwood replacing Chris Barry.

Hornchurch made a strong start to the second half, when Tuohy went close on 47 minutes, with Madden making another fine save.

Play was confined to midfield for the next ten minutes, but Hornchurch then went close when Theo Fairweather-Johnson sent the ball into the middle, but just too far for Tuohy to reach.

Aveley made their second substitution of the match, Billy Coyne going off and Chid Onokwai coming on after 60 minutes.

Three minutes later it was another goal for George Purcell, when he ran forward, outpaced his marker, and hammered the ball into the net.

On 66 minutes, Jamie Hursit sent in a well-flighted free kick, Tuohy met the ball with a powerful header, but Madden saved well.

Hornchurch continued to press, and a minute later Madden was again in action, making another good save, this time from a Fairweather-Johnson shot from 30 yards out.

The play quickly swung to the other end, where Mott made a good save from Bolle’s header.

Aveley made their final substitution of the match, Jack West replacing Harry Cook with twenty minutes left to play.

Hornchurch continued to make the running and Purcell went close to getting his third of the match with a fine solo run and shot, the ball flashing narrowly wide of the goal.

Back at the other end, Bolle went close when his header came back off the post, and Mott then saved the follow up shot as the ball rebounded.

Six minutes from time, Purcell sent a good centre into the middle to Tuohy, but his header lacked direction and went wide.

Two minutes from time Theo Fairweather-Johnson sent in a hard left-footed shot that Madden saved. But Theo was not to be denied, and in the final minute he neatly finished off a Sean Roberts pass for the fifth goal of the night.

And Jim McFarlane did not use any of his substitutes, the first time this has happened since August-2013.