Rivals pick up point to end survival hopes

Hornchurch had their relegation from Conference South confirmed after Tonbridge earned a draw against Eastbourne last night.

Urchins trailed the Angels by three points, following their 3-1 defeat at Sutton on Saturday, and needed the Kent club to lose to have any hope of taking their fight for survival to the final day of the season.

The first half ended goalless, before Eastbourne took the lead through Jamie Smith’s 25-yard strike in the second period.

But the visitors were then reduced to 10 men when centre-back Ollie Rowe was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Ollie Schulz and Tonbridge made the numerical superiority count on 75 minutes as David Ijaha equalised.

The home side held on through four tense minutes of injury time to ensure a point, which condemned Hornchurch to the drop with Truro and Essex neighbours Billericay.

Urchins striker Martin Tuohy tweeted: “Words can’t describe how I feel!

“First relegation on CV and I’m confident it will be the last! #onwards”

Hornchurch are due to host Hayes in their last match of the season at Bridge Avenue on Saturday.