Hornchurch 3 Enfield Town 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
In a sense Tuesday night was a case of déjà vu. Score first, then concede three. Just like last Saturday.
Except this wasn’t quite the same. Tougher opposition, mudbath of a pitch and everyone in a Town shirt putting in a shift.
And yet another game slips by and we have now lost three on the bounce following four straight wins.
Why the trend has been suddenly reversed is a question Gavin Macpherson admitted he was scratching his head over but this latest setback can be put down, quite simply, to the fact that Hornchurch were more clinical and showed superior accuracy of pass.
The fact we created good chances away from home on that kind of surface was certainly a plus point but playing twice a week against teams of individual quality takes its toll. Especially when you have to work harder for your opportunities than the opposition.
Having said that, on another day we might well have got something. Gavin made two changes, giving Ollie Knight a start on the wing and moving Bailey Brown into midfield, replacing John Oyenuga and Jack Bates respectively. And both played their part.
It was Ollie who gave Hornchurch an early scare with a curling centre that was cleared from under bar.
Whilst Hornchurch thereafter looked the livelier side as they settled into a rhythm, the first half was pretty much 50-50. Town had already seen Anointed Chukwu’s flick find Hisham Kasimu whose turn and shot was thwarted by a timely block before, on the half-hour, we went in front as Knight’s corner was moved on by Chukwu for Bailey Brown to finish (pictured).
How we could done with our next chance also finishing in the back of the net. Instead, Knight’s rising strike after great work by Hish just cleared the bar though a corner should have awarded instead of a goalkick after Mason Terry got a touch.
Hornchurch’s equaliser wasn’t long in arriving. At Step 2 you invariably get punished for mistakes and when Mickey Parcell lost possession, the ball was moved across to Charlee Adams who rifled it into the corner.
As halftime approached, Joe Wright – like Mickey playing against his old club – kept out Charlie Pegrum’s effort but we still posed a threat as Chukwu’s low drive was parried by the legs of Terry.
H-T 1-1
Now it was a question of getting through the next period of play unscathed. Instead within seconds of the restart, we lost concentration and allowed Darren McQueen to poke the ball home as the very first attack off the half was only half-cleared.
As Hornchurch attempted to put the game to bed, Wright had to fly across his goal to push away another Wraight effort before two further home attacks flashed wide.
Cue a decent spell of possession by Town but although we pushed forward in search of parity, our decision making left a lot to be desired.
Hish couldn’t convert a one on one and with seven minutes left, all our efforts suddenly came to nought. Former Towner Manny Harvest, off the bench, delivered a sublime assist and McQueen’s finish was almost as good.
After keeping his players in the dressing room for half an hour, Gavin admitted some “hard truths” had been discussed with 11 games now left.
“Their superior quality in finishing showed through,” Gavin conceded. “Between the two boxes it was pretty even but they were meaner in defence and better in attack. Yes we put in a shift but this league is unforgiving.”
Gavin couldn’t help but again look back to Tonbridge. “Saturday was a killer. Tonight was always going to be extremely tough. We are where we are for a reason.”
Now comes the small matter of hosting league leaders Dorking in four days’ time.
“It’s bizarre form we are showing in the last few games and we’re trying to work it out,” said Gav. “As long as I live I probably won’t be able to fathom it. All we can do now get the team prepared for Dorking while keeping legs as fresh as they can be.”
Town
Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Leonard, Youngs (Hutchinson, 90), Parcell, Brown (Bates 85), Knight; Chukwu (Oyenuga, 68), Kasimu