Pre-season friendly: Kingstonian 3 Hornchurch 2

Kingstonian edged out Hornchurch in a five-goal thriller at Fetcham Grove last night, but there were plenty of positives for Jimmy McFarlane.

George Purcell and Ross Wall were on target for Urchins who produced a good showing in front of 104 spectators.

Kingstonian started powerfully and forced four corners inside the opening five minutes, but the Hornchurch defence held firm and Sam Mott was not called upon to make a save.

Urchins settled down after and on eleven minutes Alex Bentley made ground before crossing to Purcell, only for his hard shot to go wide of the goal.

Two minutes later and Hornchurch came close to scoring, when Purcell turned inside the defender, and crossed to Wall, but his first time volley rose a fraction too high.

McFarlane’s team were now causing the home defence a few problems, and Wall fed the ball through to Purcell, but he sliced his shot wide of the goal.

On 28 minutes Joe Turner eluded Hornchurch Jamie Hursit and made tracks towards goal, but his hard shot went just wide of the post.

Two minutes later the Ks again went close, when Sam Page played a good pass through to Charlie Taylor, who quickly controlled the ball, but sent his shot wide.

Hornchurch created two chances on the 34 minute mark - Aaron Bufton could not hold a Purcell shot, and the ball ran loose, with Theo Fairweather-Johnson just failing to connect. Tobi Joseph then sent in a good effort that was blocked by a defender.

Five minutes before the interval, Kingstonian’s Taylor slipped the ball through to Turner, and his shot was deflected over by Hursit for a corner, which was comfortably cleared.

Craig Edwards’ team took the lead two minutes into the second half, when a hard drive came back off the bar to Tom Derry, who sidefooted the rebound into the net.

Two minutes later Hornchurch drew level, when the ball was played down the line to George Purcell, who cut inside and fired his shot hard into the net.

On 53 minutes Purcell again broke through but was crowded out before he could get in a shot.

It was now time for changes, and Sean Roberts, signed during the summer from Cray Wanderers, made his first appearance for Hornchurch, having missed the earlier games through injury.

Three minutes later, Purcell won the ball, and played a square pass to Ross Wall, who promptly deposited the ball into the net to give Hornchurch the lead.

Manager McFarlane promptly made two more changes, bringing on Jay Porter for Bentley and Bradley Warner for the hard-working Purcell.

Warner was involved almost immediately, putting in a shot which was charged down, the ball running out for a corner, which fell invitingly to Joseph, but he fired his shot wide of the post.

Nine minutes from time Taylor headed the equaliser from a right wing cross, and two minutes later Kingstonian went ahead when Joe Turner turned inside the area to shoot past Mott, for what proved to be the winning goal.

Hornchurch are next in action on Thursday when Kelvedon Hatch visit Bridge Avenue. Admission for the game is free.