AFC Hornchurch (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Read 45 (pen),90+3
Attendance: 279
New ground: 329
Admission: £6
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 84/3,036
This was my first visit to AFC Hornchurch’s Bridge Avenue Stadium, and contrary to reports of it being a complete dump, I didn’t mind it as far as the facilities go. There was plenty of covered seating and standing accommodation but for those that like to stand behind the goals there is either none or you need binoculars to watch from the clubhouse terrace. It has to be agreed that viewing across the athletics track is far from perfect, especially in the second half when we watched Tonbridge attacking the clubhouse end from a diagonal slightly behind the corner flag. It did, however, turn out to be a handy position to see Alex Read’s exquisite volley to seal the points and an Angels triumph at Hornchurch for the first time ever. The pitch was strangely mown that left the grass relatively long and proved to be a difficult surface.
Hornchurch roared out of the traps, no doubt their ears stinging from a managerial reminder of their midweek 5-1 defeat by Lewes at the Stadium. Sean Marks brought a save out of Jonny Henly before the first minute had elapsed and ex-Angel George Purcell fired narrowly wide after 13 minutes. In between, Adem Ramadan had three efforts that each sailed over the bar, but at least each one got slightly lower.
Purcell shot against the bar after 16 minutes after being set up by Nana Boakye-Yiadom; a free kick from Brad Warner was wastefully headed wide by Kenzer Lee and Purcell once more tested Henly as Tonbridge struggled to find any momentum.
The game was into the last ten minutes of the first half before the visitors started to exert pressure on the Hornchurch goal. A good move involving Joe Turner and Ramadan set up Tommy Whitnell for a shot that was blocked by a defender and Turner supplied a pass for Read to shoot wide.
The breakthrough came on the stroke of half-time when a ball into the box from Jack Parter found Read who drew a clumsy challenge from Kenzer Lee that left the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Read dusted himself down to drive the spot kick into the corner which gave the correctly guessing Callum Chafer no chance.
The second half was as professional a performance as you would wish from your side on the road. The nature of the athletics stadium does not lend itself to being particularly atmospheric but as the home side became completely stifled any noise level was reduced to that of a library.
Chances for both sides were limited, the best of which came when Turner’s free kick was tipped over by Chafer.
Hornchurch’s Connor Hogan picked up a unnecessary booking when in a fit of frustration he kicked the ball into the hoarding after being penalised and following a poor challenge on Turner in the final minute he saw a second yellow.
Three minutes of time added had been played when substitute Jared Small galloped from deep in his own half down the right before sending in the perfect cross for Read to volley home at the far post.
Those Country Roads may be long and winding but, for now, they are paved with gold.
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