HORNCHURCH 1 MARGATE 0
The early morning snow had disappeared leaving a dull and overcast day,
which gradually turned to persistent rain. Hornchurch were without
Elliot Styles, suspended, and Jonathan Hunt, who limped off at Cray last
week, but Jamie Dormer passed a fitness test and came back into the
starting line up, and Rickie Hayles, signed from Tilbury, made his debut
at centre half. When Hornchurch went to Margate earlier this season,
they had just appointed a new manager to replace Terry Yorath, and it
was a case of déjà vu today as this match marked the first time that manager John Keister was in charge for Margate, in a player manager role. The match at Margate was also the first time that Jim MacFarland was in charge.
In overcast conditions Urchins kicked towards the windmill end in the first half, and it was Margate who made the first attacking move, when Mark Goodfellow had to clear from Joe Healy. This led to a throw in and Aaron Lacey hurled the ball deep into the goalmouth where Ronnie Fletcher turned it out for a corner. Wayne Wilson sent the kick over and Fletcher cleared. Urchins came forward and Andy Tomlinson played a long pass up to Ben Boyce who ran on and fired his shot wide of the post. Boyce then gained possession in midfield and sent a long ball up field, which Jo Flack chased, and keeper Luke Garrard came out to the edge of the area, where he collided with Jo Flack but managed to grab the ball. A good pass from Jack Haverson almost allowed Curtis Robinson to get through, but Rickie Hayles tackled well, although a free kick was awarded, which was taken by Wilson and saved comfortably by Darren Behcet.
Jamie Dormer sent a cross field pass to Duane Jackman who was tackled by Dan Young, who conceded a free kick in the process, which Dormer hit too far forward and the ball ran out of play. Dormer, to Fletcher, and on to Boyce, whose cross was deflected out by Robinson for a corner. Tomlinson sent the ball over but no one could get close enough to get in a header. Ben Boyce again won the ball in midfield and ran along the wing, his cross going out for a corner. Tomlinson took the kick and this went out for another corner. Tomlinson again, and the ball fell invitingly to Mark Goodfellow, whose goal bound shot hit Jo Flack, and in the ensuing scramble, JO FLACK reacted first to prod the ball into the net, to the delight of the East Side and the utter dejection of the eleven away supporters who had travelled through snow and ice and into and out of the Tunnel.
And it could and should have been two nil just two minutes later, when Duane Jackman made a penetrating run on the right and was chopped down as he played the ball in to Jo Flack, who received similar treatment. Penalty it was, though no sign of a yellow card, and Jackman needed lengthy attention before limping off. With no Mark Janney and no Jonathan Hunt in the line up, it first appeared that Andy Tomlinson was going to take the penalty, but it was eventually Jo Flack who stepped up, placed the ball on the spot twice, then hit a right footed penalty shot which keeper Luke Garrard saved. And what would have been a comfortable two goal lead remained a not-so-comfortable one goal lead.
Margate rarely looked dangerous though Lloyd Blackman made a good run through the middle and saw his well struck shot equally well saved by Darren Behcet. Dormer, out to Flack and promptly on to Jackman
whose shot was blocked. Shortly before the interval came the only real chance that Margate had when captain Lloyd Blackman raced clear, only for Rickie Hayles to catch him up and neatly gain possession of the ball.
Half time and the rain now began to come down and the pitch began to cut up. Tomlinson made a good run on the left to send Michael Spencer away, and Michael’s excellent centre swerved just over the bar and onto the roof of the net. Flack then set up Duane Jackman with a first time pass and Duane’s shot brought an excellent save from Garrard, who just grabbed the ball as Duane tried to get a touch as it bobbed loose. Hayles then played a good ball in front of Flack, who slipped it across to Jackman, whose shot was just wide of the post. Urchins nearly scored after Fletcher’s attempt was miskicked out by Garrard who found himself stranded out of his goal. Ben Boyce was first to the ball and his forty yard lob from the touchline almost dropped under the bar. A Jackman shot was deflected out for a corner and it was Jackman who headed Tomlinson’s corner kick just over the bar.
In a rare Margate sortie upfield they were awarded a free kick, which did not go down at all well with the East Side, who were becoming agitated at the succession of decisions which were going against Hornchurch. Joe Healy took the kick and Behcet punched clear, with the follow up shot going high over the bar. So Yao came on for Ben Boyce and played much deeper than normal, but when Mark Janney came on for Jackman, who had chased everything non stop, Soz moved up, to cause considerable consternation to the visiting defence. A Tomlinson corner was cleared and Margate thought they had scored when a long throw in from Aaron Lacey saw the ball rebound off the bar and though it was touched into the net, the linesman’s flag was being waved long beforehand. Tow long throws by Billy Coyne caused concern in the Margate defence, and Urchins had one further chance to increase their lead when Soz Yao was pulled down in full flight, and Tomlinson’s free kick was headed just past the post by Jamie Dormer.
And what of the utterly dejected eleven away supporters who had made the trek through the snowy wilderness of Kent? They trudged away, even more dejected – apart from one of their number who protested bitterly that their throw in expert was being held back and prevented from taking throw ins by the home supporters – this proves that the Urchins following must have the longest arms in football history, as they had to stretch across a six lane running track to reach the thrower. As far as excuses for losing go, this has to be one of the best ever. |
