TOOTING & MITCHAM 2 HORNCHURCH 3
For the third time in a week it was around the M25, junction 8 this time. Hornchurch had Ross Wall back in the starting line up, and newly signed Sam Sloma came in for his debut. Michael Spencer went to left back. Jo Flack and Jamie Dormer came into the squad after lengthy injuries. On a very heavy pitch, with the wind gusting erratically, Hornchurch started confidently and could have taken the lead when Billy Coyne’s throw found Andy Tomlinson, who played the ball out to the left for Sam Sloma, who crossed first time into the goalmouth where Dave King just managed to grab the ball as Mervin Abraham homed in. It was Coyne again who created an opening for Tomlinson, who slipped the ball through a narrow gap to Abraham, who was tackled by Andrew Howell as he went to shoot. Tooting had not looked threatening but when Rickie Hayles tackled Aaron Goode, a free kick was somewhat surprisingly awarded, and Howell sent the ball deep into the area where Goode went close with a header.
A first time shot from Tambeson Eyong was charged down, and at the other end Ronnie Fletcher headed away an Allan McLeod corner, and the ball was quickly played upfield to Sloma, who switched the ball back to Eyong on the right. Tambeson carried on and his viciously dipping shot was touched around the post by King, although a goal kick was awarded. Tomlinson then sent Abraham away on the right and his cross was headed away by Joe Vines, but Hornchurch took the lead when Abraham, in a seemingly hopeless position and surrounded by three defenders on the right, neatly back heeled the ball to BILLY COYNE, who, thirty yards out and on the right side of the field, hit a low shot goalwards, and despite Matt York’s attempt to keep the ball out after King had failed to reach the shot, the ball carried on into the net at the far post.
Tooting came back quickly and Michael Spencer headed McLeod’s centre out for a corner, from which Paul Vines headed over. Urchins almost went two up when Billy Coyne created an opening for Ross Wall, who, from thirty yards, turned sharply and hammered the ball goalwards. Keeper Dave King just managed to get his hand to the ball, and then frantically juggled it off the line to safety. Tomlinson sent a long ball across to the left to Sloma, who turned it inside to Abraham, who homed in on goal and his powerful shot hit a defender before being scrambled out by Dean Hamlin. A long clearance upfield almost gave Simon Parker an opening, but Darren Behcet reacted quickly to race out of the area to kick clear. The ball reached Billy Coyne who made ground and his cross was flicked on by Ross Wall and Joe Vines did well to prevent the ball crossing the line.
Tooting had not looked threatening but levelled the score, when they were awarded a free kick just outside the area in very controversial circumstances after Tomlinson’s tackle had appeared perfectly legitimate. Simon Parker took the free kick, and his low shot rounded the wall was turned around the post by Darren Behcet. McLeod took the corner and JOE VINES came in unmarked at the far post to head home. Tooting almost went ahead when another McLeod corner was cleared off the line by the combined efforts of Rickie Hayles and Ronnie Fletcher, but right at the end of the first half Tambeson Eyong powered his way through and his hard drive was inches wide of the post.
The wind increased noticeably after half time and Hornchurch played into the face of very blustery conditions. Tooting started strongly when Paul Vines raced through the centre and Billy Coyne came across to concede a corner, and McLeod’s kick was cleared by Elliot Styles. An excellent through pass split the defence and Simon Parker ran clear and his shot was well saved by Behcet, with Hayles completing the clearance. Hamlin sent Paul Vines away and his shot was deflected for a corner, which McLeod swerved over and Behcet cleared. Urchins eased the pressure when Billy Coyne cleared upfield and Eyong ran on past his marker, but his shot was blocked and the ball scrambled to safety. Elliot Styles won a free kick which Sam Sloma took, and the ball crashed into the wall and was promptly played upfield where Paul Vines took up the running but hit his shot wide of the post.
A Tomlinson free kick resulted in a corner and Andy floated the ball over to Elliot Styles, whose header skimmed the bar. Michael Spencer was stopped by Dean Hamlin who was booked, and Tomlinson’s free kick found Elliot Styles whose header was cleared up field, and Hamlin quickly fed the ball out to the left where SIMON PARKER came in rapidly to fire the ball low past Darren Behcet to give Tooting the lead.
Jamie Dormer came on for Billy Coyne, and moved into midfield with Sam Sloma crossing to the other side of the pitch, and Dormer settled quickly to play the ball to Eyong who ran on and his shot was well saved by King. Mitchell Stuart-Evans then replaced Ronnie Fletcher, and a minute later Hornchurch were level. A Tomlinson corner on the left swerved in towards goal, where keeper Dave King could not hold the dipping ball and MERVIN ABRAHAM calmly nodded it over the line. Two two and Urchins were definitely in charge in midfield. Eyong almost scored with a hard hit shot which Dave King saved spectacularly, but with Hornchurch applying constant pressure they took the lead when Tomlinson and Dormer combined in midfield to send ROSS WALL racing away on the left. Ross cut inside and hit the ball low into the goalmouth, towards the far post where Mervin Abraham was waiting to tap over, but Matt York, in a vain attempt to clear, only helped the ball over the line.
.Ross Wall almost added another with a fine solo run and shot, which Dave King saved well, and when the referee signalled three minutes of stoppage time Tooting threw everyone forward, and although there were two very optimistic appeals from behind the goal for hand ball, they never looked like getting the equaliser, though Darren Behcet was called into action to save from Simon Parker. Jonathan Spencer came on for Ross Wall, and Hornchurch took three points which few had forecast prior to the match. Hornchurch were loudly applauded off the pitch by a smallish away following, after an excellent team performance, with the non stop running of Mervin Abraham and Ross Wall was a deciding factor up front, whilst Rickie Hayles and Michael Spencer were outstanding in defence. |
