AFC Hornchurch

AFC Hornchurch 0, Hendon 2

Hornchurch - Mott, Homans, Bourne, Styles (c), Beckles, Curley, Johnson, Bentley, Tuohy (Marshall-Katung 66), Purcell, Joseph (Davis 83)

Unused Subs - Griffin, Gogo, Hursit

Hendon - McNamara, Seeby, Sprague, Fisher, Brathwaite, K Maclaren (c), Murphy, C Maclaren (Aite-Ouakrim 83), Smith (Ibe 63), Morgan (Dean 75), Da Costa

Unused Subs - Worrell, Palmer

Bookings - Bourne (Ho) 16; Seeby (He) 16; Johnson (Ho), 20; Joseph (Ho) 45; Bentley (Ho) 69; Brathwaite (He) 75; Johnson (Ho) 81 - sent off;

Attendance: 188

Hornchurch came into this game on the back of a home defeat by lowly Hampton & Richmond Borough whereas Hendon had just dispatched Leiston 4-1 in the FA Cup. Hornchurch sat 23rd in the Ryman Premier, Hendon 3rd.

With Starkey having departed to Maidstone the left back void was filled by Chris Bourne as Bentley retained the midfield berth he had been filling for the last couple of games.

Hornchurch started the brighter as both Purcell and Bentley had efforts which tested McNamara in the Hendon goal. But the first real chance fell to Hendon's Smith who was put clear, rounded Mott and then shot wide from a narrow angle with an empty net awaiting.

Bentley, bloodied by a Hendon challenge left the pitch and returned re-shirted and in Butheresque style to continue the midfield muck and bullets battle, but it was Seeby and Bourne who overstepped the mark and both were rightly booked for a bit of a nose to nose. Johnson soon followed into the referee's notebook for a crude challenge.

Brathwaite had a header saved by Mott before Purcell lined up a freekick 25 yards out. The initial effort struck the wall and the rebound that followed cleared the bar. Hendon continued to press and Joseph cleared one of a number of dangerous forays into the Hornchurch half. Joseph's name was then taken as the half drew to a close.

Half Time: AFC Hornchurch 0, Hendon 0

On 49 Purcell cut inside from the right and hit a dipping volley which just cleared the bar. Hornchurch were pressing but it was Hendon who took the lead as a mix up between Curley and Styles let in Smith and he duly finished with aplomb. The Hornchurch heads visibly dropped and Hendon started to take control. Da Costa had a good effort well saved before the Greens doubled their lead. A freekick on the left was expertly swung in and Casey Maclaren arrived unmarked to head home.

Marshall-Katung replaced Tuohy on 66.

Bentley was then the fourth Urchin to be booked as he reacted angrily following the referee's failure to award a free-kick and 10 minutes later Johnson was cautioned again as Hornchurch's frustrations grew. Johnson, making his first start in a Hornchurch shirt, trudged off to take the mandatory early bath.

With 3 minutes left a superb Mott save kept the scoreline down as Hendon looked to take advantage of their extra man but the refereee soon brought the game to an end.

Hendon remain 3rd as all the top 4 were victorious. Hornchurch slipped to the foot of the table as ex-Urchin Leigh Bremner scored in VCD Athletic's 2-1 win at Leiston which elevated them to 23rd.