HORNCHURCH 1 CHELMSFORD 2

Hornchurch kicked towards the windmill end in the first half, and although they had the better of the play, the strong wind meant that many passes were overhit and ended up harmlessly in the hand of visiting keeper Holloway. A promising start, which saw a hard shot by Jo Flack blocked, and when the ball rebounded back out to Jamie Dormer, his first time follow up shot screamed just inches wide of the far post. Chelmsford had just twelve supporters who had made the short trip to the Bridge, in marked contrast to the 150 Urchins who had travelled to Chelmsford on the Saturday, but the faithful twelve were inspired to raise a feeble shout when Modeste sidestepped Mitchell Stuart-Evans and raced in from the left side, and Elliot Styles came across quickly to concede a corner. Holmes took the kick and Simon Glover came up unmarked to head narrowly over the bar.

A good move involving Mark Janney and Billy Coyne saw a long ball pumped into the goalmouth, where Holloway just beat Jo Flack to the loose ball. At the other end another Holmes corner came to nothing when Stuart-Evans cleared. And then a quickly taken free kick by Billy Coyne found Wayne Gray, whose shot was deflected out for a corner, which Hunt took and Holloway did well to hold as it swerved into the goal. A long throw from Billy Coyne created problems in the visiting defence, before the ball was eventually scrambled away. Disaster struck when Jo Flack had to be substituted following a heavy tackle and he was replaced by Duane Jackman.

City looked dangerous when they broke clear, and a Lock free kick was headed over by Glover, and at the other end a similar free kick by Jonathan Hunt was headed narrowly over the bar by Elliot Styles. Modeste looked dangerous with a penetrating run, but his cross was held by Darren Behcet, who pumped the ball up field, where Jackman was just beaten to the ball by Holloway. A long pass by Wayne Gray via Jamie Dormer almost found Jackman, but once again it was the alert Holloway who got to the ball first. Andy Tomlinson was booked just on half time, and although Urchins had dominated the first half for long periods, they were playing into the strong wind in the second half, and the gusts were getting stronger by the minute.

Just two minutes had gone in the second half when City were awarded a free kick about thirty yards out towards the left touchline. MATTHEW LOCK stepped up to take the kick, and his wind assisted kick swept over Behcet and into the net. And it was Lock once again on 54 minutes with another free kick, after Elliot Styles was booked for what appeared a perfectly legitimate tackle on Holmes, which this time was headed home by SIMON GLOVER. A similar free kick two minutes later saw Lock this time hit his shot over the bar, as the gale grew in intensity. Haswell was then booked for a very late tackle which stopped a promising move on the right, with many in the crowd firmly expecting a red card. Hunt took the free kick but Holloway saved.

Ben Boyce came on for Andy Tomlinson, with Hunt moving inside, Spencer going more into midfield, and this inspired Hornchurch to storm forward, with Hunt invariably in the centre of any move. Boyce charged through the middle, but was tackled, and was booked when most thought that it was the City player who should have been booked. With Hunt now dictating the play, it was his free kick, given for hand ball against Berquez, who somehow escaped a yellow card, which caused chaos in the City defence before Glover headed out for a corner. Hunt took the kick and a massive goalmouth scramble ended in another corner, this time on the right. Hunt took the kick again, and again the ball was scrambled off the line, back to Jamie Dormer, who crashed his shot through a massed defence, and the ball skimmed the post.

A Holmes corner from a City breakaway was held by Behcet, and then Ben Boyce sidefooted the ball to Hunt, whose shot hit a defender and was again scrambled away. Michael Spencer interlinked with Hunt, but the eventual cross was over hit. Boyce and Hunt again combined and again Hunt’s shot hit a defender, going out for a corner. Hunt took the kick, the ball dropped into a packed goalmouth and JAMIE DORMER hammered the ball into the net. There was price to pay, as Dormer was kicked by a defender as he went for the ball, and had to limp off, with Paul Shave coming on. It was now one way traffic, with the City goal under constant siege. Berquez conceded a free kick, again escaping an expected yellow card, and Hunt floated the ball into the packed goalmouth. Styles, Shave and Jackman all went for the ball, which was twice kicked off the line before being diverted around the post for a corner. Hunt swerved the ball inwards, and once again the ball bounced all around the goal line but was finally hoofed clear. Virtually on time – the referee only added on three minutes, despite the constant time wasting – Hunt hit a free kick just inches over, and City survived to face Truro City in the next round. This caused some concern with the City officials, as the match cannot be played on the Saturday, and it is not known if it will go ahead on the Friday or on a Sunday – of course they could always play it at the Bridge.