Hornchurch (0) 0 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 19 October 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Hornchurch Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
A magnificent save by Harvey Wiles-Richards deep into added time kept a point intact for Bath City.
The goalkeeper clawed away Liam Nash’s terrific turn and volley for his sixth clean sheet of the season.
Latrell Humphrey-Ewers squandered City’s best chance in the first half.
Ultimately defences came out on top in a contest where both teams struggled on a heavy surface.
Hornchurch, winless in five heading into the contest, started positively and Femi Akinwande’s strong run saw him upended by Nick Grimes on the edge of the box.
Ryan Saunders stepped up for the free-kick which cannoned against the inside of the post and bounced out of harm’s way.
Sol Wanjau-Smith created City’s first opening just shy of the half hour.
The attacker ran on to Alex Fisher’s flick-on and saw his centre misdirected by the stumbling Will Greenidge to Humphrey-Ewers, who contrived to stab wide from eight yards.
Ryan Scott headed Tom Wraight’s corner wide after the giant centre-back rose above Dan Greenslade.
Grimes nodded Jordan Tillson’s cross over from 12 yards when he was left alone in the penalty box from a short corner.
The first effort on target arrived on 50 minutes when Akinwande’s sharp turn and shot was too close to Wiles-Richards.
Wanjau-Smith hit Humphrey-Ewers’ cross into the side-netting from a near impossible angle before Giles Phillips acrobatically hooked over from Scott’s header inside.
The defender was well placed at the other end to prevent Luke Russe near the line. Elliott Frear delivered from the left having beaten Saunders, but Russe’s extra touch at the back post allowed the grounded defender to block.
Both sides created openings in stoppage time. Frear’s drilled cross was beaten out by the sprawling Mason Terry against Fisher, deflecting the ball wide.
Scott Kashket’s driving run on the right for the Urchins concluded with a curler which flashed just away from Wiles-Richards’ right post.
The goalkeeper was called upon once more with seconds left.
Bailey Clements’ long throw wasn’t cleared and Nash was allowed to set himself before volleying towards the bottom corner, only to see Wiles-Richards fling himself across to bat behind.
It would have been the first goal scored at Hornchurch Stadium in the second half of a league game this term.
The draw keeps City a point above the Essex side ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Weymouth.
Att: 614
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Grimes, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith (Alves 81), Humphrey-Ewers, Frear, Fisher, Tillson, James (Raynes 76), Russe. Subs not used: Sardo, Sweeten, Pritchard.
Scorers: City – none; Hornchurch – none
City Bookings: Grimes (15), Parselle (53), Russe (90)
Officials: J Crofts, D Doyle, N Garside, J Dann-Pye (4th)