Tonbridge Angels 0 Hornchurch 1

Match 34/25/2376 - Saturday, 8th November 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hornchurch (0) 1 Hearn 62
Attendance: 803
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,169

Despite a tough examination of their credentials as National League South leaders, Hornchurch departed the Yeomans Community Stadium with their unbeaten run and their six point lead at the head of the table intact, courtesy of a Henry Hearn goal just beyond the hour mark.

Tonbridge battled hard but foundered in the final third against a resilient, steadfast Hornchurch defence that offered the Angels precious little in clear cut chances.

Alan Dunne reflected in his post-match interview: “You can see why Hornchurch are top of the league but saying that I felt we controlled the game both in and out of possession. I was disappointed not to come away with something from the game, I thought we deserved at least a point.”

The Angels manager gave debuts to new signings Jack West-Astuti and Logan Dobbs with Jacob Adams and Nazir Bakrin dropping to the bench alongside another new signing, Tom Leahy.

Hornchurch started the game brightly, with a confidence borne of a long unbeaten run that stretches back to the latter part of last season and had the opening opportunity when Henry collected a cross from ex-Angel Charlie Pegrum, but shot wide when well placed.

The Angels were far from overawed by the table-toppers and there was very little in the game in the first half in the way of clear cut chances with set piece efforts for the visitors from Frankie Edwards and Tom Wraight and, for the Angels, a Kyle Smith low cross which narrowly eluded Bunmi Babajide after 11 minutes and a free kick from Smith which rippled the top of the netting.

Hornchurch made strong claims for a penalty that was waved away before on 62 minutes, a Dobbs challenge saved the day as Hearn looked poised to score, but the respite was only to last a minute as a long cross from the right by Wraight eluded the outstretched leg of Dobbs and Hearn dinked a clever finish over the advancing West-Astuti.

The introduction of Sean Shields brought a cross from the right that fellow substitute Alfie Pavey met with a header that cleared the bar and, as Hornchurch defended deeply with numbers in the closing minutes, the clear opportunity was continually denied.

Dunney concluded: “My only criticism today was that we tried to score the perfect goal and we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough. We got into the box and into good areas but we’ve had five or six entries but could not get a shot off. The difference between Hornchurch, top of the league and us, was they were a little bit more savvy, bit more street-wise.”