Hornchurch manager Daryl McMahon called on his side to show “more ruthlessness and clinical edge” after being held to a goalless draw by Dover Athletic at Bridge Avenue.
The result keeps the Urchins top of the National League South, but Weston-Super-Mare now have the chance to climb above them by a point if they win their game in hand.
McMahon, who collected the Manager of the Month award for August before kick-off, admitted it had been a testing afternoon.
“Good point in the end, I think,” he said. “Dover were in good form themselves; they made it hard for us.
"We’ve had a lot of change in our team this week, with Klaas being recalled and injuries on the pitch today, which made it difficult, but I thought we were very good again. Particularly in the second half, we got into the final third quite a lot — maybe the wrong pass or the wrong execution, but overall, pleased with the display.”
Hornchurch created the first chances of the contest. Josh Rees forced Dover goalkeeper Mitch Walker into an early save, while Darren McQueen rattled the crossbar and upright with a curling effort that somehow stayed out.
Dover carried their own threat, with George Nikaj setting up Luke Baptiste for a shot that Arthur Nasta held on the line.
McMahon was forced into a defensive reshuffle when Mackay Welch departed with an injury, handing a debut to Frankie Edwards.
“Mackay’s just an impact,” he explained. “The lad kicked his shin, so it looks like he’s going to be OK, but we’ll check again Tuesday. I thought Frankie came in and did brilliantly. He hasn’t even trained with us — we signed him yesterday late. To come in, not know anybody, and then step in really early in the game, I thought he composed himself and showed what a good player he is.”
Both sides pushed for a breakthrough in the second half. Dover almost snatched the points when Myles Mensah’s header hit the post, before Hornchurch introduced Henry Hearn and Angelo Balanta from the bench to increase the attacking threat and the boss was particularly pleaesed with Balanta's impact.
McMahon insisted the substitutions came at the right time. “They were at the right time,” he said. “Ruffy (Charlie Ruff) was having an impact on the game — he had that chance in the first half and put the pass through to Piggs (Charlie Pegrum) at the start of the second half.
"I thought Angelo was outstanding again today, and when Hen (Henry Hearn) does what Hen does, we know he’s a good player.”
Despite late pressure, Hornchurch could not find a way through, leaving McMahon to reflect on the need to be sharper in decisive areas. “We have to do a little bit more to win,” he admitted. “If teams sit in, like Dover did today, we got into that final third numerous times — it’s about the right execution of pass, cross or shot and being a little bit more ruthless and clinical.”
With Hornchurch still unbeaten at home, McMahon brushed off suggestions that being top has made them a target.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t really care about being top of the league in September,” he said. “There are so many good sides in the division and it’s so early in the season. At home we are good — we were good here last year, we are difficult for most teams to come here. It was difficult again for Dover today. I’m sure they’ll be happy with the point.”
Attention now turns to the trip to Horsham, where McMahon’s message remains simple. “We’re going to try and win every game we play, whether it’s home or away,” he said. “That’s our mentality here. We know we won’t win them all, but that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
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