Report

The Urchins made it 4 games without a win as they struggled to break down a resolute Thamesmead Town who after taking a 2-0 lead comfortably held on despite Matthias Fanimo’s late strike.

Tuesday 10-October-2017 – F.A. Trophy
HORNCHURCH 1 THAMESMEAD TOWN 2

HFC – Mott, Bentley, Porter, Hursit, Cooper ©, Roberts, Fairweather-Johnson, Chouman, Wall (McKenzie 66), Purcell (Tuohy 66), Warner (Fanimo 66)
Subs – Kamara, Lambert

TT – Carey, Brand, McIntyre, Kinch, Smith, Denny, Anidugbe, Kwayie, Vine, Teniola, Mendy
Subs – O’Connor, McIntosh, Adeniran, Ovenden

Officials – Andreas Anastasiou with Chris Cooper and Dean Markwick

Scorers – Kinch 49 (T) – Kwayie 56 (T) – Fanimo 81 (H)
Bookings – Smith 41 (T) – Cooper 60 (H)
Attendance 126
Duration 46.00 + 49.00

HORNCHURCH 1 THAMESMEAD TOWN 2

On Sunday it took Hornchurch 60 minutes to get going. Tonight it took a bit longer, and by the time they started to get things together they were two goals down and heading out of the Trophy.

The first half was almost a non-event, with play largely confined to midfield. Thamesmead won a couple of early corners, and a Paul Vines header went harmlessly over the bar, though Alex Bentley had to move sharply to block a hard shot in a crowded area shortly afterwards.

Hornchurch created few chances at the other end, the best coming from a Jamie Hursit free kick into a packed area, the end result being a header that went over the bar.

On 25 minutes Jake McIntyre swung the ball over into the middle, where Laurent Mendy moved forward, and Nathan Cooper, captain for the night in the absence of Elliot Styles, made an excellent block.

And it was McIntyre again who provided an opening for Vines, with Mott making a good save.

Lewis Carey saved from Brad Warner on 41 minutes, and a shot from George Purcell was dragged wide of the post.

Leon Smith was booked for a foul on Sean Roberts and it was Smith a minute later who was well positioned to block a shot from Ross Wall.

Hornchurch started the second half strongly, with Warner moving on to Wall’s header and his shot skimmed the bar. A minute later Wall headed wide from a Jay Porter cross.

But the opening goal came at the other end, when Scott Kinch moved in at the far post to head home a corner from close range.

Hornchurch almost replied inside a minute, when Alex Bentley crossed to Theo Fairweather-Johnson, but Carey saved his header.

Disaster truck on 56 minutes, when Bentley mistimed his header, the ball eventually reaching Tashi-Jay Kwayie, who ran forward to slot the ball home.

Two minutes later Purcell fired wide, and then came the best solo run of the match, when Cooper raced through from inside his own half, around two defenders, and he then slipped the ball to Wall, but Carey made an excellent save.

Manager Jim McFarlane then made a triple substitution, Purcell, Warner and Wall going off and Martin Tuohy, Matthias Fanimo and Leon McKenzie coming on.

For the remainder of the match Thamesmead were forced to defend, with Smith prominent whenever a high ball came his way.

Fanimo made a good run along the left wing, but his cross was intercepted with McKenzie about to shoot.

Carey saved well from Tuohy, and with eight minutes to go, Hornchurch pulled a goal back. Jed Chouman took a corner on the left, and the ball was headed out to Matthias Fanimo, who promptly volleyed it hard back and into the net.

The stage was set for a lengthy siege on the visiting goal, and a massed defence scrambled the ball away twice in a minute, but the equaliser would not come and Hornchurch have now gone four matches without a win.