Pre-season friendly: Hornchurch 5 Kelvedon Hatch 0

Hornchurch warmed-up for their friendly with a West Ham United XI tomorrow (Tuesday) by defeating Kelvedon Hatch 5-0 last week.

Jimmy McFarlane’s team scored three times after the break having gone into the interval with a two-goal lead.

Hatch, from the Essex Olympian League, gave a spirited performance against a Urchins side that was almost at full strength.

Hornchurch had an early scare when goalkeeper Callum Calder conceded a penalty on eleven minutes, but Hatch wasted a golden chance to go ahead by firing the spot kick high and wide.

Calder made amends with two excellent saves later in the game, and Hornchurch slowly increased their momentum, with Ross Wall going close before Bradley Warner opened the scoring with a fine shot wide of Rob Hatton on 28 minutes.

Three minutes later Alex Bentley finished off from close range, and then Hornchurch made their first substitution, when Elliot Styles replaced Sean Roberts.

Calder made amends for conceding the penalty with two good saves in the second half, but the visitors, playing their first match of the season, tired, and Hornchurch took control.

They missed several chances before Warner scored his second goal of the game with a powerful drive.

Martin Tuohy added the fourth goal six minutes later, and Hornchurch forced several corners before George Purcell wrapped up the scoring with a well-taken individual goal, running through the defence before firing in.

Ex-Urchin Jamie Southon, who is assistant manager at Kelvedon Hatch, came on for the final few minutes before the final whistle followed.

Hornchurch complete their pre-season games with a friendly against a West Ham XI tomorrow (7.30pm kick-off).

Admission is £5 with under-12s going free, as Urchins conclude their preparations for the new Isthmian North campaign.