Report

The Urchins controlled much of the first half and led at half time following new signing Usman Adeniji’s strike but Tilbury rallied after the break and equalised with 7 minutes remaining through left back Conway.

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Tuesday 31-January-2017
HORNCHURCH 1 TILBURY 1

HFC – Mott, Bentley, Da Cruz, Lee, Styles ©, Chouman, Nesbitt, Wall, McKenzie, Coker (Morrish 74), Adeniji
Subs – Cohen, Coley, Hussain, Hursit

TFC – Butcher, Mead, Conway, Smith, Nightingill, Jaggs, Francis (Aromolaran 74), Carlile ©, Barham, Richmond (Hewitt 66), Smith
Subs – Beniot, Norton, Singh

Officials – Gerry Heron with Orville Bentley and Olly Fyfe

Scorers – Adeniji 16 (H) – Conway 83 (T)
Bookings – Da Cruz 79 (H) – Jaggs 84 (T)

Attendance 119
Duration 45.00 + 49.00

HORNCHURCH 1 TILBURY 1

The rain, which had fallen for most of the day, grew steadily heavier as the match progressed, and Tilbury overcome the heavy conditions in the second half to net the equaliser with a few minutes remaining.

Hornchurch, with three players – Teddy Nesbitt, Tobi Coker and Ossie Adeniji -making their home debut, were almost caught out early on when Joe Nightingill came up for a corner, only to direct his header wide of the goal.

Hornchurch began to press forward and Alex Bentley went close with a long-range shot, which Lee Butcher tipped over the bar for a corner. Nesbitt sent the corner into a crowded goalmouth, and Leon McKenzie was quick to move onto the loose ball, but put his shot over the bar.

On 16 minutes, after steady pressure, Nesbitt sent over a dangerous free kick, Lee Butcher punched away, but Ossie Adeniji followed up to fire the ball home for his first goal since signing from Witham last week.

Tilbury came back quickly when Lewis Francis was allowed too much space and he put in a fine shot which beat Sam Mott, but which also went wide of the post.

Hornchurch enjoyed the better of the territorial play, with Jed Chouman going close, and a minute later Ross Wall sent in a hard shot that hit the post and went out for a goal kick.

An appeal for a penalty was rejected when Ross Wall appeared to be pulled back inside the area as he was about to shoot.

As Hornchurch tried hard to increase their lead, Bentley sent in a first time shot which skimmed the bar, and Adeniji fed the ball through to Nesbitt, but his shot drifted wide.

With conditions much more difficult in the second half, and with the rain getting heavier, Hornchurch lost their first half supremacy, allowing Tilbury to gain control in midfield.

Jack Barham put a shot over the bar and at the other end a McKenzie shot was cleared off the line, and shortly afterwards Bentley made ground on the right, and put the ball into the middle, where Wall headed wide.

Wall was again unlucky with a shot on the turn, which Butcher did well to save. But Tilbury began to threaten, and Kenzer Lee made a timely tackle to deny Kurt Smith.

Tilbury drew level seven minutes from time when Reece Conway finished off a good move with a well-directed header at the far post.

Hornchurch had a chance to regain the lead two minutes later when Nesbitt broke through, but Butcher saved well. And a minute later a goal-bound Nesbitt shot was deflected out for a corner.

In the four minutes added on for stoppages, Tilbury were forced to defend. A McKenzie shot was cleared off the line, but Tilbury held out to take their share of the points.

With thanks to Andy Dickinson.