Hornchurch close gap at top

Two late goals from Martin Tuohy lifted Hornchurch to a 2-1 win at Ryman Premier Division strugglers Tooting yesterday.

Urchins looked set to lose ground on leaders Billericay on a topsy-turvy day as they trailed in south London, after their title rivals had taken an early lead against Carshalton.

But in a further dramatic twist, Billericay conceded an equaliser and Tuohy struck twice in the last seven minutes to set up a mouthwatering summit meeting at Bridge Avenue on Monday.

An own goal gave Billericay a third-minute lead at New Lodge and former Urchin Dave Collis fired against the crossbar before half-time.

Meanwhile Hornchurch saw Lewis Smith’s header pushed on to a post by former Urchins keeper Darren Behcet as the scoreline remained blank south of the Thames.

Carshalton got back on terms with 16 minutes remaining, through Sonny Ayres, but Hornchurch then fell behind as Connor French converted Jerome Walker’s low cross.

Billericay would have extended their lead to five points if the scores had stayed the same in both games, but Tuohy gave Urchins a lifeline when he fired home from a tight angle in the 83rd minute.

And when Smith was brought down in the box four minutes later, Tuohy stepped up to send Behcet the wrong way from the spot and take his tally for the season to an impressive 30.

Former Urchin Glenn Poole went close to a late winner for Billericay, as his long-range free-kick hit a post in the last minute.

And Hornchurch now find themselves with their destiny in their own hands, just two points behind Billericay ahead of their Bank Holiday Monday encounter and with only three more games to play after that.