Second half penalty gives Hornchurch victory

By Ray Simpson

Feb 27, 2021

Second half penalty gives Hornchurch victory

Visitors through to semi finals

Darlington 1 Hornchurch 2

Goals: Nash 26 mins, 0-1, Sousa 45+2 1-1, Higgins 54, 1-2.

Shots on target: Darlington 8 Hornchurch 3

Shots off target: 9/4

Corners: 6/3

Free kicks conceded: 11/7

Offsides: 1/6

Yellow cards: 3/2

Red cards: 1/0

Quakers were beaten by a second half penalty to knock them out of the FA Trophy.

However, Quakers weren't clinical enough in front of goal, and they can look back on some good missed opportunities in the 18 yard box, especially when they were piling on the pressure in the second half.

At 1-1, it looked as if Quakers would score next, but Hornchurch scored from the penalty spot, and they held on for a place in the last four.

Quakers finished the game with ten men after skipper Will Hatfield was dismissed for a foul near the end.

And the final whistle when it came was the last that Quakers will hear this season.

Quakers nearly went ahead in the second minute. Erico Sousa picked the ball up on the left, cut inside, and hit a right foot shot that went just past the post.
Sousa had another chance two minutes later when he picked up a short pass from Will Hatfield, cut into the box again, and fired right footed over the top.

Hornchurch had a chance on 9 minutes when a ball into the box was headed away by Nicky Hunt, and Sam Higgins hit the ball full on the volley past the post, then Ellis Brown fired over the top.
Quakers responded with a ball into Rivers that he laid back for Maguire to fire just over the top.
Sol Brynn pulled off his first save on 13 minutes, diving low to his left to hold a left foot shot by Charlie Ruff.

Quakers missed a great chance on 23 minutes. A ball forward by Hedley was miscontrolled by Hornchurch defender Remi Sutton in the box, and Danny Maguire, following up, chipped the ball over defender and keeper, but unfortunately, over the bar as well.
Hornchurch took the lead on 26 minutes. Sutton beat the offside trap on the left, got into the box, and squared the ball for Liam Nash to sidefoot in at the far post.

Quakers nearly levelled on 32 minutes. Hatfield found Adam Campbell in plenty of space in midfield, and the striker ran forward to the edge of the box and hit a right foot shot that went just wide of the left hand post.

Rivers found Maguire inside the area on 36 minutes, and after he had wrongfooted a defender, he fired a low left foot shot into the keeper’s hands.
Quakers had another chance on 40 minutes when Hatfield’s shot was blocked, but the ball ran for Sousa, whose effort was saved at full stretch by Wright, and the keeper recovered to hold Maguire’s follow up at the foot of his post.

Quakers levelled in the second minute of stoppage time. Campbell broke up the middle from the halfway line, and set up Sousa, who sidefooted the ball past the advancing keeper for his seventh of the season.

Erico is congratulated after scoring the equaliser

Half time 1-1

It was all Quakers at the start of the second half but Hornchurch were awarded a penalty on 53 minutes when Ruff broke through and was brought down by Brynn as he rounded him. Higgins converted the penalty to put them back in front.

Hornchurch nearly got another, but Storey pulled off a superb tackle on Nash in the area.
Sousa and Liddle then exchanged passes to put Sousa into the box, but Wright parried his shot and the ball was cleared.

Quakers piled on the pressure, Campbell and Hunt both had shots blocked, and Wheatley fired wide of the left hand post.

Sean Reid came on for Wheatley, who had been booked, on 73 minutes.

However, Hornchurch broke and nearly got a third on 75 minutes through Nash, but Brynn pulled off a good diving save.

Hunt threaded a great ball through for Maguire on 77 minutes, but the keeper blocked at Maguire’s feet just inside the box.

Sousa then played a great 1-2 with Reid, but the keeper saved his low shot.

Quakers put on Omar Holness for Hunt, but then had skipper Will Hatfield sent off on 84 minutes for a foul.

Despite being down to ten men, Quakers had a chance to equalise, Reid set up Maguire whose shot was blocked by a defender.

Final score:

Darlington 1 Hornchurch 2

Team: Brynn, Hedley, Hunt (sub Holness 83), Storey, Liddle, Sousa, Hatfield, Wheatley (sub Reid 74), Rivers, Campbell, Maguire

Subs: Saltmer, Watson, Hudson, McMahon, Atkinson

Booking: Wheatley Hatfield, Brynn