LEWW BEAUTY SHOCKS ROCKS
HORNCHURCH were winners at Nyewood Lane as all the goals came in the first half on a blustery and cold afternoon.
While much of NonLeague was focused on the FA Trophy, which the Urchins won this year, they took the lead on ten minutes.
Jili Buyabu did well to run beyond Bognor’s defence before squaring to Charlie Ruff, who on the turn, bobbled the ball inside the left post beyond the diving Amadou Tangara.
Liam Nash was clean through on goal with a second goal in the for the taking, but with Tangara to beat he smashed it high and over the bar.
Bognor’s Harrison Brook responded in similar fashion receiving the ball from Jordy Mongoy before cutting inside and smashing high and wide.
Tangara pulled out a wonderful fingertip save to deny Joe Christou from distance.
Bognor’s day got worse on 43 minutes when Hornchurch got their second goal. Lewwis Spence hit a left-footed long-range ball over Tangara from the halfway line and beyond his outstretched right glove and bizarrely into the net with the wind behind him.
James Crane did well to find Nathan Odokonyero and his winding run saw him win a penalty after the defender tripped him. Crane stepped up to coolly smash home the resulting spot kick in first-half stoppage time.
Nash then received a square pass as Mark Stimson’s Urchins attacked – Tangara pushed the fierce shot from Nash around the goal with both hands. Ricky Hayles got something on the corner from Nash but Tangara easily saved it.
Hornchurch had another great chance go begging as Ruff ran beyond the Bognor back line before curling a cross in with the outside of his boot but Nash smashed it over the crossbar.
Ronnie Winn pounced straight from a Bognor corner but after getting through his pass towards Christou saw him blocked and then Winn was also blocked from just inside the box on 69 minutes.
Bognor battled throughout but chances were few and far between. Mongoy found Odokonyero who turned instantly to shoot from outside the box of which Joseph Wright gathered.
Then Charlie Bell hit one which took flight from distance but Wright was equal to it again.
STAR MAN: Jake Flannigan (Bognor)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★