Leaders leave Lewes well beaten

Hornchurch maintained their hold on top spot in the Ryman Premier Division with a superb 4-0 win at Lewes.

Jon Hunt returned to the squad in place of the suspended Dave Collis and Urchins had several good chances in the first half at the Dripping Pan.

Lewes went into the meeting with a 100 per cent record at home, but Urchins broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart when Tambeson Eyong found Lewis Smith in the box and he was tripped, allowing Martin Tuohy to score from the spot.

And Urchins doubled their lead just past the hour when Frankie Curley helped the ball on to Tuohy, who was also taken down in the box to earn a second penalty.

Tuohy picked himself up to score a carbon-copy goal from 12 yards, before making way for Hunt.

And Hornchurch went 3-0 up soon after when Rickie Hayles crossed from the right and Lewis Smith headed home at the far post after home keeper Fabian Speiss had misjudged the flight of the ball.

Hunt sent Smith clear in the closing stages, to be denied by Speiss, before Urchins sealed an excellent day’s work with a fourth goal in stoppage time.

The Hornchurch fans, in a crowd of 642, were able to travel home with big smiles on their faces as Hunt curled a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner to signal his return to action in style.

Romford returned empty-handed from Division One North rivals Potters Bar after a 1-0 defeat.

The only goal arrived in the 56th minute when a long ball found Bradley Harrison, who steered his shot past an advancing Elliott Anderson.

Boro’s best chance of a reply fell to substitute Kurt Smith, but the eight-goal striker was off-target.

Paul Martin’s men turn their attentions to the Essex Senior Cup tomorrow when they welcome Conference side Braintree, managed by former West Ham favourite Alan Devonshire, to Mill Field.