Romford return to winning ways

Hornchurch returned from Suffolk empty-handed once again, after another injury-time defeat.

Beaten 2-1 at Lowestoft after a last-gasp Lubo Guentchev strike in August, Urchins went down by the same scoreline at Bury after John Sands struck a late winner for the hosts.

It was harsh on Jimmy McFarlane’s men, who deserved at least a point from their Ryman Premier Division encounter despite having Reiss Noel sent off for two bookable offences early in the second half.

Urchins settled quickly on a heavy pitch at Ram Meadow, but fell behind against the run of play midway through the first half when Sam Reed headed in from a corner.

Frankie Curley had a shot deflected over the crossbar before Noel was booked shortly before the break.

Noel then received his marching orders after picking up another yellow card on 52 minutes but ten-men Hornchurch kept their composure and were awarded a penalty for handball seven minutes from time.

Jon Hunt swept home the spot-kick and Urchins might have snatched a late winner when Lewis Smith played in Michael Spencer on the right, but his effort drifted just wide of the far post.

And, to rub salt into the wounds, a long ball out of the Bury defence found Kieran Leabon in space on the left and his cross fell kindly for Sands to net a 93rd-minute winner.

Romford returned to winning ways in Division One North with a 2-1 success against Chatham at Mill Field.

Having taken only one point in their last four matches, Boro were given an early boost as Paul Clayton put Wale Odedoyin through to score with a low shot in the 10th minute.

Paul Martin’s men doubled their lead just two minutes later when Jack Barry was left unmarked to convert a Paul Kavanagh corner.

And the scoreline remained unchanged until injury time when Barry was adjudged to have handled a hard-struck shot deliberately on the line – and shown a red card – and Lee Hales netted a consolation from the spot.