HORNCHURCH 1 HASTINGS UTD 2

Hornchurch lost against a poor Hastings side in a match which they dominated for long periods, but were unable to get the ball into the net. Kicking towards the windmill end of the ground in the first half, they missed several clear cut chances. Mark Janney created the first move with a neat pass to Dean Green, who then played it out to Andy Tomlinson on the left. Andy ran in and shot, and keeper Nessling saved well. A Tomlinson free kick then dropped invitingly in front of Mark Goodfellow, ho however skied his shot over the bar. Simon Parker won a corner which Tomlinson played short to Janney and Mark’s cross was headed away by Ramsay. Hastings rarely threatened although they were awarded a free kick when Donny Barnard tackled Adams, but Phillips put the ball straight at Darren Behcet, and then Sam Adams sent a shot high over the bar.

Urchins were continually coming forward. A Simon Parker solo run on the left ended with Nessling parrying his goal bound shot, and the ball rebounded to Dean Green who scooped the ball wide of the open goal. Billy Coyne broke up a move on the right to again send Parker away and Simon slipped the ball inside to Janney, whose shot was saved at full stretch by Nessling. Then Parker came in at speed from the left and set up Mark Janney, who crashed his shot over an open goal. Elliot Styles and Donny Barnard combined to give Dean Green an opening. Dean beat two defenders and then saw his excellent low cross go begging in front of goal. Green to Janney, and then across to Parker, and yet again Nessling saved.

Hastings took the lead when Jim McFarlane headed away a corner from Phillips, and the ball was quickly returned back towards goal where Gonnella headed on to MATT MACLEAN, who seemed to be several yards offside, but whilst the defence stood still waiting for the whistle which never came Maclean almost apologetically headed the ball into the net. Hornchurch came back strongly when Janney sped down the right but put his centre onto the roof of the net. Dean Green created a good opening for Mark Janney, who then screwed his shot wide of the goal. Almost on half time a long throw by Billy Coyne was headed on by McFarlane, Nessling again saving.

Hornchurch started the second half well, when Purdie found Parker who ran on and shot, the referee ignoring a loud appeal for hand ball, before the ball ran back to Kris Lee whose shot was deflected out for a corner. Tomlinson swerved the ball in and Nessling punched clear, Simon Parker was then played through the middle and Nessling again saved well, turning the shot out for another corner. Nessling then followed up with another good save from Tomlinson’s corner.

Hastings then came more into the match, though relying heavily on a packed defence to for the most part dealt with the aerial bombardment which came their way, Gonnella was a constant danger on the right and he sent a good pass out to Maclean whose shot was saved well by Darren Behcet. Purdie then put a good pass through to Parker but his hit his shot wide of the post. Parker then glanced a header wide from Tomlinson’s corner to the near post, whilst at the other end a Phillips corner was caught by Behcet. A Curley pass to Abraham saw Mervyn flick on to Kris Lee but he was pulled back for offside. Hornchurch drew level after Goodfellow had found Lee on the right and Kris sent the ball hard goalwards, where it was handled and MARK JANNEY hit the penalty firmly into the net.

Five minutes later, with Hornchurch coming forward, the ball was cleared to Gonnella who ran on and took advantage when Billy Coyne slipped over and although his shot was blocked MATT MACLEAN followed up and hammered the ball into the net. Hastings had one more corner, again taken by Phillips, and thereafter pulled everyone back into defence. Hornchurch were confined to just two chances, both of which were missed. Parker to Janney and his cross was scrambled out to Goodfellow who could not get a firm shot on the ball, which was clasped on the line by Nessling. In the third minute of stoppage time Abraham won a free kick but Janney’s centre went harmlessly out of play.