FA Cup Preliminary Round
AFC Hornchurch 1 v 1 East Thurrock United
A GOAL by former Hornchurch hero Lewis Smith on his first return to Bridge Avenue earned Rocks a replay in Saturday’s FA Cup First qualifying round tie, but the visitors had to survive a late surge by the Urchins who came close to a last minute winner when Martin Tuohy hit the woodwork.
Hornchurch started confidently with a long range shot by George Purcell in the first minute which drifted wide of the goal.
The first move by the visitors caused some consternation in the home defence when the ball was scrambled out but only as far as Mitchell Gilbey, whose shot was directed over the bar.
Purcell ended a fine run by winning a corner, which was cleared comfortably, and on 14 minutes Hornchurch took the lead after a good move starting from Junior Luke, who played the ball inside, where Tobi Joseph backheeled to Purcell, who neatly placed the ball wide of David Hughes.
Two minutes later Purcell again found the net, with a well placed shot wide of Hughes but the whistle had long gone for offside.
The East Thurrock equaliser came after the defence twice failed to clear a cross from the left, and the ball broke to Smith, whose weakly hit shot trickled into the net off the post with Sam Mott appearing to be caught by surprise.
Hornchurch replied quickly when Tobi Joseph ran on to Luke’s pass only for his shot to be cleared off the line.
Junior Luke sent over a succession of long throws, most of which were cleared with ease, but when one reached Elliot Styles, he placed his header straight at Hughes.
Hornchurch were somewhat fortunate when Mott failed to react to a corner, and Simon Peddie scooped his shot over the bar.
Almost on half time Purcell went close with a good shot which skimmed the bar, following good work by Joseph.
Courtney Homans replaced Tom Davis soon after the restart, Phil Starkey moving more into the midfield.
There was a marked contrast in style in the second half – Hornchurch continued with an aerial bombardment while the visitors continued to play the ball along the floor, but neither side created any chances until Chris Bourne sent a centre invitingly across goal, where there was no one to finish off.
Hornchurch had a good opening when Joseph chased a long ball, but Hughes ran off his line to smother the ball before the Urchins player could shoot.
East Thurrock were fortunate when a Purcell shot was blocked, and the ball rebounded to Frankie Curley whose hard first time drive went inches wide of the post.
A shot from Gilbey went wide though the play was mainly confined to the other end of the pitch, where Curley headed wide from a Purcell corner.
Tuohy, once a prolific goalscorer for East Thurrock, Tobi Joseph, and he almost got onto the end of a fine cross from Bourne, whilst East Thurrock again had to withstand a series of long throws from Luke.
On the coutner attack a superb flowing move saw Sam Higgins with a good chance to give East Thurrock the lead, but Mott came out quickly to save.
East Thurrock survived two near misses in stoppage time – another long Luke throw was headed on and Tuohy almost scored with a spectacular overhead kick which cannoned back off the post and which was then scrambled out for a corner as Purcell moved in onto the rebound.
And a minute later another long throw from Luke landed in front of Tuohy, who stumbled as he was about to shoot, and East Thurrock held out for a replay.
