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28th July 2005
	AFC Hornchurch	3 - 2	Leyton
Holland 40', Springer (pen) 73' Drake 90+		H/T 1-2 Att: 203	Glynn 25', Knight 30'

Match Highlights

AFC Hornchurch

Leyton

	25	GOAL - Glynn
	30	GOAL - Knight
Holland - GOAL	40
	45	OFF - Renner ON - Stowe OFF - Martin ON - Kwakye
Thomas - OFF Roberts - ON	50
Bull - OFF Dear - ON	52
Drake - OFF Gill - ON	55
Makitu - OFF Philip - ON	59
Holland - OFF Springer - ON Heale - OFF Drake - ON	66	OFF - Elsegood ON - Honeyball
	72	OFF - Tomlinson ON - Golby
Springer (pen) - GOAL	73
Collier - OFF Madden - ON	75
	80	OFF - Shipp ON - Cook OFF - Glynn ON - Nsubuga
Drake - GOAL	90+

Match Report by Tony Middleton

Tony Choules took no chances and fielded his full first team, which included eight of last season’s Urchins in the line up. Urchins were missing Danny and Nicky Cowley, both out with minor knocks, and Billy Drake, scorer of the sensational winner two days earlier, was given a place in the starting line up. Stuart Roberts and Reece Madden were included in the squad for the first time this season.

Leyton, two divisions higher, settled quickly and Urchins had plenty to do to keep out a very lively forward line, with Danny Shipp prominent in most of their moves. It was ex-Urchin Michael Gorman who created the first opportunity, picking out Keith Martin, who played against Urchins last week for East Thurrock. Martin ran on to the ball, drew Collier off his line, and then hit his shot inches over the bar. Martin nearly made amends shortly afterwards, speeding past Lee Sontag and playing the ball out to Gorman on the right. Storming Norman cut inside but was tackled by Bostock, who had moved across to cover. Knight created some worrying moments with his dipping corner, before Makitu headed away, but only as far as Shipp, who sent Glynn clear on the left. Glynn placed the ball low into the middle, and Martin netted, but was pulled back for offside.

A goal looked likely to come as Urchins struggled against a side with a lot more experience, and Golby conceded a free kick only ten yards out of the area, with a mistimed tackle on Glynn. Would it be a pile driver from Shipp, or from Gorman? The answer was never known, as Matt GLYNN surprised everyone, included the Urchins wall, with a well flighted and quickly taken free kick, which sailed past Collier and into the net. Urchins found themselves two down a few minutes later when SPENCER KNIGHT, signed from Conference side Canvey Island, surprised Tiffin, who was holding back from making a tackle, by chipping an off-the-line Collier. Two nil.

Urchins up until now had not really threatened, and with players of the calibre of Andy Tomlinson, Matt Glynn and Danny Shipp, this was proving to be a real test of both skill and character. Urchins were lacking in neither, and Charlie Bull, now signed as an Urchin having turned down Maldon’s offer, raced down the left wing, left Peddie trailing, cut inside, and, with Tomlinson running back to cover, Bull hit a shot from a narrow angle, which beat Hassell but hit the side netting. Then Billy Drake, running non stop, sent Tiffin away, but Gorman was able to clear. Thomas moved forward through the middle, played an excellent ball out to Bull, who touched it back to Thomas again. A clear cut chance, but Hassell saved well. With Urchins now making the running, it was no surprised when they pulled a goal back. Tiffin was prominent, and his cross created havoc in the Leyton defence, and BILLY HOLLAND was ideally placed to score his first goal of the season. Holland nearly added another, taking the ball on the run from Danny Heale, who was playing deeper than usual, and Thomas did well to get in a challenge as Holland was lining up for a shot. Danny Shipp then picked out Gorman, whose power drive was held by a diving Collier. Almost on half time, Drake found Heale, who touched the ball back to Bostock, whose long upfield pass fell invitingly in front of Drake who had continued to move upfield. Chris Elsegood however had spotted the danger, and he raced across to hammer the ball into the east side.

As Urchins came out for the second half, the main talking point was not so much whether they could get back on level terms - this was taken as read - but the big question was ‘what make of boots was Leyton’s Des Thomas wearing?’ They were bright silver.

It was Urchins who now looked the better side, and they were matching Leyton in every respect. Holland did not stop to admire Thomas’ silver boots, but played the ball out to Bull on the left. Bull simply galloped past Peddie and swung the ball across, Thomas headed out for a corner, and Bull’s corner found Holland, who touched his shot inches wide of the far post, with Hassell beaten. Another corner, this time it was Golby who pumped the ball back into the middle, but Hassell saved well at the feet of Holland, and then saved yet another Holland shot, this time diving to tip the ball round the post. Dear, Gill and Stuart Roberts all came on, and immediately combined well to set up Holland yet again, and once more it was Hassell to the rescue. Danny Heale was doing a good imitation of Danny Shipp in midfield, and Leyton must have been relieved when both Heale and Holland were subbed, with Lee Springer coming on and Billy Drake coming back to cause a bit more havoc on the right. Springer’s first touch almost brought a goal, when he took on the visiting defence and it was Hassell once again who raced out to save. Springer again, beating Thomas, and finding himself with just Hassell to beat. Hassell did well to save yet again. Sontag came forward to join in the onslaught, and he found Tiffin in the middle, who beat Thomas, but cracked his shot just over the bar.

Collier had little to do, though he still had to keep alert when Gorman attempted a long shot, and Shipp moved forward onto Kwakye’s pass and hit in a good shot which was on target but lacked the power to beat Collier. Eric Kwakye was lively on the right, but got little change out of Dear and Sontag. But most of the play was at the Leyton end of the ground. Drake was finding a lot of space on the right, and his centre found Springer, but Paul Golby did well to prevent him getting a shot in. Leyton eventually caved in to the relentless pressure, when Springer was tripped. The penalty was clear cut but hotly disputed. Who would take it? All Urchins normal penalty takers were playing for Leyton. Up stepped LEE SPRINGER, who hammered the ball home, reminiscent of Steve West at his best.

Leyton came back, and Madden, on for Collier, was called into action on two occasions, firstly from Cook and then from Nsubuga. But for the most part, it was Hassell who was in action. Drake found Gill, and Hassell saved right on the line. Into stoppage time with Ryman League, you’re having a Laugh ringing out loud and clear. Urchins had more than deserved a draw. In fact they deserved more than a draw, and they got it in sensational fashion. Aby Nsubuga, in midfield, played a dreadful pass sideways to Des Thomas, and the ball went yards wide of its intended target, finding instead BILLY DRAKE. Even then there looked no danger, as he was well out of firing range. But Billy is getting the taste for scoring in the last few seconds. He turned and crashed the ball low past Hassell. Three two, All over.

Player of the match - Danny Shipp, but only until Lee Sontag got going.
 

Video Highlights by Rob Monger

- 30mins. Spencer Knight puts Leyton 2-0 up (570KB)
- 40mins. Billy Holland pulls a goal back (830KB)
- 73mins. Lee Springer makes it 2-2 from the spot (710KB)
- 90+ mins. Billy Drake grabs the winner. How about that ! (670KB)

 

  Teams

AFC Hornchurch Michael Collier Ket Koka-Makitu Lee Sontag Jordan Bostock Glen Golby Gareth Thomas Billy Drake Greg Tiffin Billy Holland Danny Heale Charlie Bull SUBS Danny Gill Lee Springer Nathan Philip Sean Dear Stuart Roberts   Reece Madden

- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 * 12 14 15 16 17 18 GK

Leyton James Hassell Simon Peddie Chris Elsegood Andy Tomlinson Des Thomas Michael Gorman Victor Renner Keith Martin Danny Shipp Matt Glynn Spencer Knight SUBS Chris Stowe Eric Kwakye Paul Golby Scott Honeyball Andy Cook Aby Nsubuga

Man of the Match Nominated by ...

Match officials – Kirk English, with Malcolm Jeffery and Paul Jeffery (father and son).

Weather Conditions:  sunny at start 25 degrees, cloudy at finish 18 degrees

Duration – first half 45 minutes 25 seconds – second half 47 minutes 37 seconds
 

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