Hornchurch 0 Cheshunt 1

Isthmian Premier Division, Tuesday 12th October

Tuesday night saw me over at Bridge Avenue as Hornchurch welcomed Cheshunt to Upminster in an Isthmian Premier contest, and a Amadou Kassarate header ten minutes from time handed the visitors a much needed win.

The hosts came into this one after a mixed start to their season, winning four and losing four of their eight league games so far in ninth, whilst Cheshunt had also had a rather mixed start to their campaign too, having three wins, a draw and four defeats, sitting in 14th and just a point behind their opponents before kick off.

The opening half hour was not the best it has to be said, with the only shot on target coming from Urchins Joe Christou who drilled an effort straight at George Marsh in the visitors goal, whilst Cheshunt's only effort on goal (if you can call it that) came from Ken Charles who blasted an effort miles over the bar.

The hosts did create a couple of chances late on in the first period, Liam Nash firing an effort left footed across goal which keeper Marsh gathered fairly comfortably, but Nash then forced a wonderful left handed save from Marsh at his near post in what was the best chance by a long way in a half that was starved of much quality of chances of too much note.

The second period was a much better fare though, and it began with Nash heading over from six yard's out, and then Cheshunt were lucky not to go down to ten men after centre half Adam Crowther wiped out Christou with an appalling challenge, but only a booking resulted, and Nash curled the resultant effort over the bar.

The Urchins then saw further chances missed by Ronnie Winn and then Ollie Muldoon, but Cheshunt did cause some problems for their opponents, especially down the left through Charles, and his trickery set up Jack Thomas on one occasion whose effort was put over the bar, and then the visitors were screaming for a penalty after a goal bound effort appeared to be blocked by a hand. And then hosts keeper Joe Wright had to make a superb save down to his right to turn a Joe Re effort round the post, it was a superb stop leaving the Cheshunt management team with their hands on their heads.

Would anyone find a winner? The answer came with ten minutes to go as a corner from the visitors saw Kassarate find space inside a crowded area to power home a header from close range, and it meant the hosts had to try and respond with little time remaining.

Nash had a chance late on when a looping ball fell into his path, but he could only volley across the box and no where near the target, and it meant the hosts would end what had been a very frustrating night empty handed and saw them fall to a fifth league loss of the season, whilst for the visitors this was a much needed win and a big morale boost after a difficult two weeks in their words.

It also meant Cheshunt leaped up four spots into tenth, and only four points off the play off positions too, and above Hornchurch who dropped three places to 12th, The Urchins are at home again against bottom side Leatherhead, they really need to get something from that to get their season back on track.

Cheshunt have an extra day's rest, but they have a very tough assignment at second placed Kingstonian who have won all four home games so far this campaign, although if they show as much spirit and battling qualities as they did in this one, then they have a chance, this win would have certainly put a spring in their step heading to King George's Field this weekend.

Full time Hornchurch 0 Cheshunt 1