Hornchurch book play-off final spot after win at Thurrock

Hornchurch produced a professional display at old rivals Thurrock to book their spot in Sunday’s Ryman North play-off final.

Urchins went ahead through an early George Purcell penalty before Junior Luke doubled their advantage in the first half.

They were well worth their lead and then defended brilliantly after the break to set up a clash with Harlow Town at the weekend.

Jimmy McFarlane, after playing a number of fringe players at Bury Town, made nine changes from Saturday’s clash.

Sam Mott was back in goal and captain Elliot Styles partnered Nathan Cooper at the heart of the Urchins back four.

Tambeson Eyong and Alex Bentley occupied the full back roles while ahead of Eyong was Abs Thompson at right midfield.

Luke lined up on the left side and Dave Collis and Nicky Symons were in the centre of midfield for the visitors.

Purcell and ex-Fleet forward David Knight returned up front with Leon McKenzie, Ricky Freeman, Joey May, Jed Chouman and Callum Chafer dropping to the substitutes bench.

Hornchurch started brightly and Purcell signalled his intention in the opening 60 seconds by testing Rhys Madden.

Thurrock’s goalkeeper easily saved before Michael Toner fired over for Fleet from 25-yards two minutes later.

It was Urchins who were looking the sharper of the two teams and Purcell showed his class in the seventh minute by cutting inside two opponents and forcing Madden to tip wide of the post.

Although McFarlane’s side couldn’t do anything from the corner, minutes later a cross from Eyong caused problems in the home box.

Lewis Clark tried to control the ball with his chest, but it bounced up and hit his forearm leaving referee Mark Mellor with no choice but to point to the spot.

Purcell stepped up and despite complains from the Thurrock players, smashed the ball past Madden to give Hornchurch the lead in the 11th minute.

Fleet responded in emphatic fashion and almost levelled four minutes later when Lewwis Spence let fly from 30-yards.

His ambitious effort took a wicked deflection off Nathan Cooper and hit the crossbar before appearing to bounce down either just over or on the line.

The backspin on the ball saw it hold in the air before Urchins eventually put it behind for a corner with everyone inside Ship Lane stunned.

Thurrock continued to press for an equaliser and after a great run, Remi Sutton’s ball into the box was spilled by Mott under pressure.

Ross Wall could only fire over the crossbar under pressure from Collis as it remained 1-0 to the Bridge Avenue outfit.

But the visitors weren’t content on just holding onto their advantage as Abs Thompson linked up smartly with Luke and the latter drilled wide.

Two minutes later, in the 26th minute, the pair were involved again as Thompson did well to collect a deep cross from Purcell.

He passed into Luke and the winger skilfully worked a yard of space before firing just past the post.

It was a good chance for Hornchurch, but a better opportunity was to be creating minutes later.

A long throw from Luke was flicked on by Styles to Knight at the back post, but Madden saved from point blank range.

Urchins were beginning to get on top now with their dangerous forwards getting plenty of space and combining well.

And one of those strikers was involved in the 37th minute as McFarlane’s side doubled their advantage with a stunning goal.

Luke exchanged a brilliant one-two with Knight before gliding past an opponent, rounding Madden and slotting into the empty net.

It was a wonderful goal and nothing more than the visitors deserved before Thurrock looked to respond.

They won two corners in quick succession, but Hornchurch defended excellently and it remained 2-0 at half time.

Fleet made a double substitution at the break with James Goode and Charlie Stimson replaced Toner and Francis.

But again it was Hornchurch who looked the sharper and Purcell won a free kick on the edge of the box before having his fierce strike deflected just wide.

From the resulting corner the ball dropped kindly for Cooper inside the box, but his effort was also deflected wide and the next set piece was cleared.

The hosts went close seven minutes after the restart when Spence’s volley was cleared by Luke on the line, although Mott would have easily saved.

As the ball bounced midway in Urchins half, Eyong and Goode both went for it and the Fleet sub caught the defender late.

But despite the away players show their dismay at the tackle, referee Mellor only decided to give the Thurrock ace a talking too.

The hosts were predictably pressing to reduce the arrears and Spence lashed over following a free kick, but McFarlane’s men were defending well.

Purcell drilled a free kick wide on the hour mark before Knight forced Madden to tip past the post after making the most of an error.

Fleet began to get on top again afterwards with the visitors sitting back and Sutton nearly pulled one back with 19 minutes remaining.

He brought the ball forward from the back, linked up nicely with Goode before getting played in on goal, but Mott saved.

The ball dropped in the Hornchurch penalty area, but Bentley put it out for a corner before Urchins survived that.

Chouman was introduced for Thompson a minute later as McFarlane looked for his team to see out the game.

Mott was called into action again in the 82nd minute when Clark’s header from a corner was finding the net until the Urchins custodian tipped wide.

Fleet were pressing now and went close again less than 60 seconds later as David Cowley’s cross was headed down, but Stimson could only volley over the crossbar from a few yards out.

In the 86th minute full back Reece Morgan was played through on goal, but his effort was weak and Mott held comfortably.

McFarlane introduced Freeman just before the 90 was up and despite five minutes of additional time, Hornchurch held on.

It had been a wonderful defensively display from the Urchins after an excellent attacking performance in the first half.

They will now visit Harlow on Sunday hoping to earn promotion back to the Ryman Premier at the first time of asking.

Hornchurch: Mott, Eyong, Styles, Cooper, Bentley, Thompson (Chouman 72), Collis, Symons, Luke, Purcell (McKenzie 90), Knight (Freeman 90).

Unused substitutes: Chafer, May.

Attendance: 514.