Report

First half goals from Leon McKenzie and Kenzer Lee were enough to see off Ware as the Urchins bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat at home to Cheshunt.

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Saturday 11-March-2017
WARE 0 HORNCHURCH 2

WFC – Behcet, Appiah, Oujdi, Hervel, Rose © (Fowler 76), Furlonge, Nzengo (Smith 72), Oyibo, Price, Woods-Garness, Karagul
Subs – Harley, Mason, Remi

HFC – Mott, Bentley ©, Nesbitt, Lee, Easterford, Chouman, Thompson (Joseph 70), Seymour, McKenzie (Adeniji 76), Wall, Tuohy (Coley 86)
Subs – Da Cruz, Hussain

Officials – Wayne Chalmers with David Jarrett and Thomas Cooke

Scorers – McKenzie 20 – Lee 36
Booking – Rose 11 (W)
Duration 47.00 + 47.00
Attendance 97

WARE 0 HORNCHURCH 2

There were two enforced changes in the Hornchurch line up, as both Gary Cohen and Nathan Cooper were missing due to injuries received against Cheshunt last Saturday.

Jim McFarlane signed Abs Seymour during the week. Abs left Hornchurch to join Billericay in December, and was ever-present their line up until being released last week. Abs scored twice in his eleven appearances for Billericay.

Also joining the Urchins is John Easterford, from Great Wakering. He has previously played for both Canvey Island and Concord Rangers.

On a sloping and very soft pitch, Ware had two early opportunities. Sam Mott saved from Jonathan Nzengo, and Alex Bentley cleared a goal-bound shot from Gareth Price.

On five minutes, a long ball found Leon McKenzie clear, and he ran forward, only to put his shot wide of the near post as a defender closed in quickly.

Ten minutes later it was McKenzie again, in a similar position, gaining possession from a long clearance, and this time his shot beat Darren Behcet, only to curve wide of the far post.

Ware were now having to defend desperately, and although they survived a Teddy Nesbitt corner, they fell behind on 20 minutes. Mott’s lengthy kick up field was flicked on by Martin Tuohy to Leon McKenzie, who made no mistake with a well placed shot.

McKenzie was then called into action at the other end, when he headed away an inswinging corner from Murat Karagul.

Mott saved well from Jonathan Nzengo, turning the ball around the post, and Easterford headed the corner to safety.

A second goal was always beckoning, and it came when Abs Thompson won a corner. Nesbitt sent the ball over towards the far post, where Kenzer Lee was waiting to head downwards and into the net.

It could have been three a minute from the interval when Alex Bentley sent McKenzie away on the right, and Leon’s cross eluded both Ross Wall and Martin Tuohy before going out for a goal kick.

A minute into the second half and a Tuohy centre was deflected away for a corner. Tuohy was also involved in the next attack, but was fouled ten yards outside the area. Nesbitt took the free kick and the ball again went across the goal with no one able to get the final touch.

Ware had rarely threatened, but they went close when Josh Oyibo fired wide from a corner, and five minutes later Mott saved well from Oyibo. In between, Abs Thompson had made a penetrating run along the right, and his low cross was turned around the post for a corner.

Tobi Joseph replaced Thompson, and it was his pass that found McKenzie on the edge of the area. McKenzie rounded Marcus Rose, and fired in a hard shot which Behcet was just able to get a hand to, enough to deflect the ball around the post.

Ozzie Adeniji replaced McKenzie, and Hornchurch again went close to increasing their lead. Ross Wall moved in from the left, but Jack Fowler blocked the shot at the expense of a corner. Nesbitt floated the ball towards the far post, where Joseph headed a fraction too high and over the bar.

Ayrton Coley came on for Tuohy, and Hornchurch had no difficulty in playing out the remaining few minutes.

Three points, but the two goal margin did not reflect Hornchurch’s superiority, in a match where they could have run up six or more goals.