Report

Two early goals for the hosts gave the Urchins a 2-0 half time lead but Chelmsford rallied in the second half scoring three without reply to run out 3-2 winners.

31-October-2017 – Essex Senior Cup

HORNCHURCH 2 CHELMSFORD CITY 3

HFC – Mott, Hursit, Porter, Lee, Cooper, Styles ©, Fairweather-Johnson, Roberts (Joseph 71), Wall (McKenzie 84), Purcell, Warner
Subs – Kamara, Hussain

CC – Jessup, Miller, Daley, Haines, Smith, Johnson, Porter © (Stevenson 89), Critchlow (Davies 35), Assombalonga, Hitchock, Batt (Green 68)
Subs – Spillane, Dickson

Scorers – Warner 12 (H) – Purcell 15(H) – Assombalonga 47 (CC) – Johnson 73 (CC) – Hitchcock 88 (CC)

Duration 46.00 + 47.00

HORNCHURCH 2 CHELMSFORD CITY 3

After going out of the league cup on Saturday, Hornchurch made their exit in the Essex Senior Cup, leaving them with just the league and promotion to concentrate on.

Both teams made a lively start, and the first chance fell to Shaun Batt, and Sam Mott saved, parrying the ball away for a corner, which came over and was dealt with by Kenzer Lee.

Brad Warner created an opening two minutes later, coming in from the left and crossing into the middle, where Ross Wall glanced his header just wide.

Hornchurch took the lead on 12 minutes, and it was thanks to the Brad Warner – George Purcell combination. Purcell made the opening robbing Haines in midfield, played the ball to Warner who sidefooted through Jessup’s legs.

Three minutes later, the visiting defence struggled to clear a long ball. The ball broke to George Purcell who scored from a narrow angle.

City retaliated, and Gianna Critchlow made a good run, setting up Tom Hitchcock, who placed his shot wide.

City were given a chance to pull a goal back when they won a free kick just outside the area. Max Porter curled the free kick around the defensive wall, but Mott was ready and waiting to make the save.

Elliot Styles then made a hard tackle to prevent a possible Critchlow attempt, the latter feeling the effects, but able to run it off.

On the half hour Theo Fairweather-Johnson dispossessed Luke Daley but put his shot too high and over.

City had a good chance to get back into the game when Ashley Miller, out on the right, centred to Christian Assombalonga, but the header was too high and over the bar. Assombalonga then attempted a long range shot but it lacked direction, and on 35 minutes Scott Davies replaced Critchlow.

Hornchurch came back and a Warner corner picked out Lee, but his header went over.

Three minutes from the interval Assombalonga sent in a shot that took a deflection, but Mott was ideally positioned to save.

Two minutes into the second half, City reduced the score. A Hitchcock effort hit the underside of the bar and Christian Assombalonga reacted quickly to head the rebound home.

City continued to come forward and on 57 minutes they were awarded a free kick. Davies took the kick but sent it straight at Mott.

Two minutes later, with City putting the home defence under pressure, Mott saved a free kick from Scott Davies. On 61 minutes Davies had another attempt with a free kick, but the ball was cleared after a goalmouth scramble. The play switched straight away to the other end, where Purcell won possession on the right flank, and crossed to Ross Wall, whose shot was blocked by a defender.

Tobi Joseph replaced Sean Roberts.

On 73 minutes City’s pressure finally paid off when Mathew Johnson fired them level after a good one-two with Hitchcock. A minute later Mott made an excellent save to deny Hitchcock.

On 78 minutes a Johnson shot was turned out for a corner, and the ball was sent over to Mark Haines, with Mott saving the header.

With six minutes to play, Leon McKenzie replaced Ross Wall, and he was almost immediately in action, running on to a Jay Porter centre, only for his header to hit the bar, before being cleared.

City took the lead on 88 minutes after a sliderule pass from Davies found Tom Hitchcock, who placed his shot firmly past Mott, and Hornchurch could not find a way back in the short time remaining.