WARNER KEEPS AFC RUN GOING
AFC HORNCHURCH 1 HARROW BOROUGH 0
AFC HORNCHURCH maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a narrow win over a well-drilled and skilful Harrow side.
Both sides could claim they were worthy of a draw but both sets of defences were on top.
With Mitchal Gough and Ryan Haugh prominent in defence, Harrow withstood a series of Hornchurch attacks in the first half while also coming close at the other end with a fine shot by Haugh.
Callum Chafer made a fine save from Gough, with Jordan Clark completing the clearance.
Hornchurch came much more into the game and Bradley Warner saw his free-kick saved by Hafed AlDroubi and the teams went in level at the interval.
The all-important goal came four minutes into the second half when the ball was worked along the right flank and crossed towards the far post when Warner evaded George Moore and fired into the net from close range.
Alex Bentley and Nathan Cooper both made fine tackles to deny the visitors, who also had a free- kick 25 yards out which rebounded off the defensive wall.
Harrow kept up the pressure and Moore dragged a shot wide when he was well placed.
But Hornchurch came back strongly and AlDroubi saved well from Warner once more.
He again saved from Theo Fairweather-Johnson and also the follow-up shot from Nathan Livings in what was a great performance of shot-stopping.
Eight minutes were added for stoppage time, during which both goals came under pressure and tempers boiled over when Harrow refused to give the ball back after Chafer had thrown it out due to an injury to another player.
Goalkeeper Al-Droubi twice came up for corners but despite the late rally and some desperate defending at times, Hornchurch had little difficulty in holding out to advance to the next round.