Former Urchin nets twice in Billericay rout

Hornchurch fell seven points behind Ryman Premier Division leaders Billericay, following their 6-0 romp at Aveley last night.

Former Urchin Glenn Poole netted twice in the rout, to leave his old club up against it in the title race.

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane was in the crowd at Mill Field and saw struggling Aveley hold out comfortably for 40 minutes.

But then AJ Olatunbosun was adjudged to have brought down Jay May in the box and Poole stroked his spot-kick past former Romford keeper Lamar Johnson.

Billericay doubled their lead directly from the restart when Paul Shave — another former Hornchurch man — gifted May possession and the striker ran through to coolly slot home.

The second half was only two minutes old when Hornchurch old boy Dave Collis picked out Chris Wild with a free-kick to glance a header into the far corner of the net.

But Millers held out until the 78th minute before conceding a fourth when Alfred Kamara gave away the ball cheaply to Harrison Chatting, who drew Johnson out of goal and fed May to slot into the unguarded net.

May completed his hat-trick eight minutes later when the ball fell to him in a crowded box and he smashed into the roof of the net.

And Poole rubbed salt into Aveley — and Hornchurch — wounds in the last minute of normal time when another goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall at his feet to tap in at the near post.

Urchins have a game in hand and visit basement boys Horsham, who were relegated at the weekend, in their next match on Saturday before hosting Margate next Tuesday.

But with Billericay looking in such clinical form, McFarlane’s men will have a job on their hands in the closing weeks to leapfrog their rivals into top spot and may have to settle for a play-off place.