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Tooting travelled to Essex without the injured Dean Hamlin,
who was replaced at right back by one of the many Colin
Hartburns. There were also first starts for young Callum
Crawley, who has been coming on from the bench for the past
few weeks, and Ellis Green, newly arrived from Croydon
Athletic.
Terrors started positively, forcing a couple of corners in
the opening ten minutes, but also appeared to be a little
nervous at the back. Fortunately there was little
penetration in the home attack and only a wicked dipping shot
that cleared King and bounced back off the bar in the 14th
minute was of any concern. However, that marked the
start of ten minutes of AFC domination, uncomfortable but
still not offering much to trouble the back line. Paul
Vines eventually provided some relief when he managed a
speculative lob, which went way over the top on 21 mins, after
which play settled into a midfield tussle. There was no
further Terrors threat until just before the break when
Crawley skipped down the right and was unlucky to skim his
floated cross along the bar and out of play.
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Half Time 0-0
The game opened up a bit in the second
period, with the previously annonymous Sullivan startling to
make his presence felt, winning a nicely positioned free kick
that was too generously chipped to Brightly. Crawley was also
enjoying his first full senior game, showing some neat touches
as his confidence grew. Hornchurch, though, were also pushing
on and almost managed to capitialise when Dave King misjudged
a free kick on 57 minutes.
Three minutes later Pitterson provided what
was really Brightlys first exercise of the afternoon when he
cut in from the right, making the keeper push his shot wide.
Aaron Goode met the ensuing corner with a fine header that was
also well saved. Just on the half hour the home side managed
three goal attempts in quick succession. The first two
were comfortably blocked and should have been easily cleared,
but the third dropped nicely for Wall in space on the Left,
who hammered it low into the Tooting net.
Abbey and Henry-Hayden replaced Pitterson
and Sullivan as Terrors chased the game, but Hornchurch seemed
happy with the single goal and concentrated on containment.
Unfortunately McFarlane turned his attention to Paul Vines,
grabbing him in the "Vinnie Jones/Gazza" style and
then performing the dying swan, crumpling to the ground, hands
to face, when Terrors won a free kick as injury time
approached. A remarkable solo exhibition which I'm sure was
not an attempt to get an opponent sent off.
Sadly this late show of gamesmanship
did not end there as the free kick was easily collected by
Brightly, who then felt compelled to stamp his authority on
Paul Vines. Not a wise move, especially when the elder
Vines is in the vicinity. Referee Evans could not have
seen the incident through the maze of players and settled for
booking the keeper and Joe, leaving the stamping unpunished.
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