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Goals from David Smith and Sam Higgins gave Hornchurch what appeared to be a comfortable lead at the interval, but Stortford enjoyed a spell of pressure in the second half, with Chris Harris pulling a goal back. Two minutes later the same player missed a penalty, the ball hitting the bar, and Hornchurch recovered their composure to regain control and run out deserved winners.
Monday 29-August-2022
HORNCHURCH 2 BISHOP’S STORTFORD 1
HFC – Wright, Parcell, Sutton, Bertram-Cooper, Hayles, Wraight, Christou, Spence ©, Higgins, Nash, Smith
Unused Subs – Stimson, Onyemah, Munns
71 – Tobi Joseph replaced David Smith
81 – Ola Ogunwamide replaced Liam Nash
BS – Giddens, Porter, Church, Henshaw, Johnson, Harris, Olufemi, Thomas, Egbri, Haines, Peters
Unused Subs – Allum, Beadle
60 – Jonathan Giles replaced Matthew Johnson
71 – Archie Edwards replaced Terrell Egbri
83 – Luke Callander replaced Oliver Peters
Officials – Fabio Roque with John Duffy and Paul Sturton
Scorers – Smith 28 (H) – Higgins 38 (H) – Harris 73 (BS)
Penalty – Harris 75 (BS) – hits bar
Bookings – Johnson 34 (BS) – Spence 53 (H) – Cooper 55 (H) – Haines 79 (BS) – Parcell 79 (H) – Church 90 (BS)
Attendance 723
Duration 47.00 + 49.00
Hornchurch went into the Bank Holiday game with an increasing injury list, without Ellis Brown, Ollie Muldoon, Kenny Clark, and Jordan Clark. With four defenders all missing, Jack Munns was signed from Billericay.
On a mild and sunny bank holiday, the early play was largely confined to midfield, apart from two long throws from Matt Johnson, both of which did not trouble the home defence. With Stortford confident in defence, Hornchurch struggled to find a way through, the closest being a Sam Higgins shot that was wide of the target.
The first moment of danger at either end came when Liam Nash sped past Jay Porter, but Jack Giddens came quickly off his line to save.
Stortford threatened when a Porter free kick, out on the left, sailed towards the far post, with Chris Harris unable to get a touch as the ball sailed out of play, and Joe Wright was called upon to field two high centres, one from each flank.
Hornchurch took the lead on 28 minutes – a Tom Wraight free kick, out on the left, came into a crowded goalmouth, Higgins was waiting, his shot coming back off a defender, and David Smith quickly followed up to score from close range. 1-0.
Matt Johnson went into the book for a late challenge on Joe Christou ten yards inside the Stortford half, but the free kick went past the post and out of play.
Hornchurch increased their lead when Sam Higgins gained possession, ran forward on the right, and he seemed to be forced wide, until he neatly sent a right-footed shot past Giddens and into the far corner of the net. 2-0.
Hornchurch had the better of the play in the remaining ten minutes of the half, but could not find a way through.
Half Time – Hornchurch 2 Bishop’s Stortford 0
Hornchurch started the second half confidently, a Higgins shot beating the keeper but narrowly wide of the post. David Smith also went close, his shot from the right curling over Giddens but just wide.
Lewwis Spence was then harshly booked for what seemed a legitimate tackle, the free kick going a little too close for comfort. Nathan Cooper followed Lewwis into the book two minutes later, and from the free kick, Matt Johnson went close with a hard shot that just cleared the bar. This signalled a spell of pressure from Stortford, with Joe Wright fielding a series of crosses.
Jonathan Giles came on for Johnson on the hour, and the pressure was temporarily relieved when Hornchurch broke down the right, the cross finding Higgins, whose shot cannoned off a defender.
A Porter cross from the left reached Harris, Wright saving well. Archie Edwards replaced Terrell Egbri and Stortford came back into the game when a Olufemi cross eluded a packed defence and Chris Harris netted from close range. 2-1.
Hornchurch appeared to hit the self-destruct button, and when Mickey Parcell accidently handled inside the area a penalty was awarded. Harris stepped up to take the kick, and the ball rebounded off the bar and was cleared. Harris and Parcell then went into the book, but Stortford had lost their momentum, and Hornchurch regained control, Giddens making an excellent diving save from Spence. Wraight played the corner into the goalmouth, where Rickie Hayles was a fraction wide with his header.
Liam Nash was replaced by Ola Ogunwamide, and Luke Callander replaced Oliver Peters, but Stortford could no longer make any impression on a Hornchurch team now full of confidence. Ola Ogunwamide made a weaving run past two defenders, only to be denied by a fine save by Giddens. The pressure continued and Giddens tipped a Wraight free kick over the bar, the corner coming into a packed goalmouth before being cleared. The final chance of the match fell to Lewwis Spence, whose first time shot from 35 yards beat the keeper but cleared the bar.
FULL TIME – HORNCHURCH 2 BISHOP’S STORTFORD 1
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