Match Report: Hornchurch

Maidstone raced into a three goal lead, only for Hornchurch to make a tactical change which led to them pulling two back. The Stones re-established a two-goal advantage on 32 minutes, only to go in level at the break before largely controlling the second half, after grabbing the winner 13 minutes after the restart.

The Stones made two changes from the victory at Dover. Hamzad Kargbo and John Gilbert came in for Jamie Yila and Christie Pattison. Both Kargbo and Gilbert were instrumental in an incredible first half which saw both sides score four goals.

Maidstone got off to a stunning start, scoring three times inside the opening 12 minutes. The first came with six minutes on the clock. Riley Court found John Gilbert who pulled the ball back to TJ Bramble on the edge of the box. Bramble’s low drive was only parried by Arthur Nasta in the Hornchurch goal and Gilbert showed excellent predatory instinct to finish from only a few yards out.

Four minutes later, Kargbo flicked the ball into the path of Court. Court still had loads to do as he set off on a decent run before dispatching a fine effort past Nasta.

Court then got the opportunity to almost immediately return the favour for Kargbo. His corner from the left was perfectly placed for Kargbo to head in at the far post.

Hornchurch elected to make a substitution on 21 minutes with Angelo Balanta replacing Frankie Edwards. But Maidstone could have had a fourth within seconds of this. Harry Gibbs accidentally gifted Court possession but Nasta was swiftly off his line and made a superb block with his feet.

This might have been a pivotal event as the momentum threatened to swing Hornchurch’s way when they scored twice inside five minutes. Substitute Balanta picked out Josh Rees who sent a nice finish sailing past Lenny Holden. Then a long throw into the box came to Balanta who fired in.

However, the Urchins were continuing to make mistakes at the back and on 32 minutes, the Stones scored their fourth. Bramble cut out an attempted pass from Giles Phillips and played a simple ball across the six yard box for Taylor Foran to tap in.

It wasn’t long before there was another goal and this time, Hornchurch got themselves back into the game. Three minutes before the break, a corner from the visitors lead to a massive scramble in the box with Lenny Holden making two saves before Rees got the vital touch to score from close range.

However, with two minutes of stoppage time played, the Urchins equalised. Tom Wraight played the ball to the unmarked Balanta who finished at the near post.

Early on in the second half, Wraight was booked for bringing down Jephte Tanga not far from the edge of the box. Court took the resultant free-kick which went just over the bar.

Then on 58 minutes, Court was involved again. This time he played a short pass to Sam Corne who was just outside the box and Corne spotted the opportunity to place a decent low finish into the left side of the net.

With both sides making a number of substitutions, it wasn’t a surprise that the flow of the game was slightly disrupted. On 84 minutes, one of these substitutes, Myles Weston, drew a good save from Holden as he beat away the ball from his near post.

Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game, Hornchurch came close to equalising but Rees’ volley went inches wide of the right post and Maidstone survived to claim a memorable victory.

Maidstone United: John Gilbert 6, Riley Court 10, Hamzad Kargbo 12, Taylor Foran 32, Sam Corne 58

Hornchurch: Josh Rees 25, 42, Angelo Balanta 30, 45+7

Maidstone United: 13. Lenny Holden, 3. Leo Hamblin, 4. Lexus Beeden (2. David Sesay 70), 5. George Fowler, 6. TJ Bramble, 7. Jephte Tanga, 8. Sam Corne, 10. John Gilbert (11. Jamie Yila 63), 17. Riley Court (26. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong 75), 23. Hamzad Kargbo (20. Christie Pattisson 63), 24. Taylor Foran. Subs not used: 1. Nathan Harness, 14. Mark Boruk, 21. Malachi Mbogba.

Hornchurch: 1. Arthur Natsa, 4. Makai Bond Welch (3. Josh Hare 62), 5. Harry Gibbs, 7. Josh Rees, 8. Tom Wraight, 14. Charlie Pegrum (11. Myles Weston, 62), 15. Giles Phillips, 16. George Alexander (9. Henry Hearn 59), 19. Sam Ling, 22. Frankie Edwards (10. Angelo Balanta 21), 23. Dominic Poleon (23. Henry Sandat 66). Subs not used: 13. Rhys Byrne, 12. Darren McQueen.