Following Saturday’s entertaining victory against Farnborough, we hosted Hornchurch in a crucial top-of-the-table clash which had been rescheduled due to external cup fixtures and weather postponements.
Going into the match, we had won 14 out of 16 home matches, averaging 2.69 points per game, and we started positively, looking to continue that run, as George Knight tested the opposition goalkeeper and headed wide in the early stages.
Both sides came into the fixture in positive form, with the away side having won three of their last five fixtures, and we having won six of our last eight.
However, the visitors started the match somewhat tentatively, allowing us to put further pressure on the opposition goal, with a shot from distance from Jordan Norville-Williams which sailed wide, preceding a corner from Dennon Lewis which tested the opposition defence.
In the opening half an hour of the match, the visitors looked to use their pace on the counter-attack; however, it took them until the thirty-minute mark to register their opening shot, which rolled comfortably into Harrison Foulkes’ arms from Josh Rees.
Despite a first half with somewhat limited chances for the away side, National League South January Player of the Month Angelo Balanta came closest to breaking the deadlock on thirty-five minutes, side-footing the ball wide from inside the penalty box, amongst shots from Dennon Lewis and Brennan Camp which both went harmlessly wide.
As half-time drew nearer, chances remained at a premium, including an Alfie Rutherford shot from range and a Myles Weston free kick, both of which were comfortably saved, despite us retaining the majority of the possession.
After some early intent from the visitors in the second half, half-time substitute Jason Prior signalled his intentions early on by looping a header towards the top right-hand corner, which had goalkeeper Arthur Nasta scrambling to ensure he had his angles covered.
Hornchurch forward Henry Sandat remained a lively presence in the affair, taking up good positions and playing on the front foot. However, Sandat remained frustrated by his finishing, blasting an effort over from close range after receiving the ball from Junior Morias.
The match sparked into life in the 65th minute as we registered the opening goal, with Frank Vincent following in to turn the ball home after a Louie Annesley effort struck the post from the left-hand edge of the penalty box.
Following the opening goal, the visitors’ efforts became somewhat limited, and we came mightily close to doubling the lead as Dennon Lewis capitalised on a defensive mix-up. However, Arthur Nasta was equal to his effort as he tried to lob the ball over the goalkeeper in a one-on-one position, before a Niall McManus cross almost floated just over the crossbar.
With the game drawing to a close and the lead still slender, we had a further opportunity to double the advantage as Niall McManus, who had put in an industrious performance, struck the ball from the edge of the box with his first touch, inches over the bar.
McManus’ effort was the last of a tightly contested affair, yet it was a key victory and one that we will look to build on as we travel to Maidstone on Saturday.