Styles steers Urchins through
Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane paid tribute to captain Elliot Styles after his last-minute winner in Kent.
Styles headed home from a Dave Collis free-kick to earn Urchins �3,000 in prize money, plus a trip to Devon to take on Bideford later this month.
And McFarlane said: “I was winding Elliot up beforehand. Looking at our stats, his last goal was the last game of last season, so he was well overdue.
“He could’ve had a couple and I was pleased for him. He’s hit a bit of form now.
“It was a tight game but Darren didn’t really have a save to make.
“There was a strong wind in the second half and they had a boy with one of the longest throws I’ve seen. It’s a bit pitch, but he was throwing it into the middle of our goal.
“We missed a few chances, so it was a good result. I did say we’d turn the corner.”
Urchins made a flying start as Martin Tuohy flicked home at the near post from a long Rickie Hayles throw-in in the opening minutes.
Lewis Smith stung the palms of Jamie Turner soon after, while an unmarked Tuohy volleyed another good chance over.
Margate were unable to make much impression against a dogged Urchins defence, but drew level just past the hour when James Rogers whipped in a free-kick and Curtis Robinson headed home.
Hornchurch dominated in the closing stages, with Michael Spencer and Ross Wall both spurning chances to win it.
And both sides looked set for a replay at Bridge Avenue when Collis centred from the right and Tommy Black nodded on for Styles to head inside the far post.
Hornchurch: Behcet, McSweeney, Hayles, Styles, Fletcher, Collis, Eyong, Curley, Tuohy (Wall 69), Smith (Black 87), Spencer.
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