Conference South: Boreham Wood 2 Hornchurch 1

Romford Recorder: Kieron St Aimie scored for Hornchurch at Meadow Park (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)Kieron St Aimie scored for Hornchurch at Meadow Park (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3LR - Editorial Use ONLY - FA Premier League and Football Lea...)

Hornchurch’s survival hopes were hit by a Good Friday defeat at Meadow Park.

Beaten by a last-minute Ben May goal at Dover in midweek, Urchins applied some early pressure and forced a couple of corners.

But the home side broke the deadlock on 21 minutes from their first meaningful attack when a Graeme Montgomery shot from the left went in off a post.

Buoyed by their goal, Wood began to dominate and they should have doubled their advantage six minutes before the break when a corner fell kindly for captain Luke Garrard, who poked his shot straight at Joe Woolley from close range.

Elliot Styles was booked just before the interval as Urchins came under further pressure, but Woolley produced another good save to palm a 20-yard effort from Chaz Isaac over the crossbar on the stroke of half time.

It proved a vital stop as the visitors got back on level terms midway through the second half when a quick throw-in released Martin Tuohy and his cross was headed in by Kieron St Aimie for his second goal since returning to the club.

Tuohy made way for Wayne Gray soon after, as McFarlane freshened up his attack.

But Wood regained the lead on 75 minutes when a cross from the right from Montgomery was headed past Woolley by Loick Pires.

The home side were reduced to 10 men with three minutes remaining when Mario Noto was shown a red card and St Aimie saw a 25-yard effort tipped over by Jmaes Russell as normal time drew to a close.

But the visitors could not find a late leveller and remain just one point above the drop zone, with rivals Staines and Billericay having four games in hand on them.

Urchins return to Bridge Avenue on Monday to play host to Bromley and need to start picking up points soon if they are to avoid a swift return to the Ryman Premier Division.

Hornchurch: Woolley, Spencer (Eyong 62), Bentley, May, Styles, Hayles, Bourne, Curley, Tuohy (Gray 69), St Aimie, Smith.

Subs not used: Coyne, Love, Glover.