AFC Hornchurch 2 Sutton United 1

8:53am Tuesday 2nd December 2008

Hornchurch’s Bridge Avenue stadium has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for Sutton, who had lost 3-0 on both of their previous visits before Saturday’s Ryman League game.

Although they managed to find the net this time there was still a disappointing outcome as they had another day on which little went right.

United’s problems had started in mid-morning when goalkeeper Darren Behcet, signed on Thursday as cover for the injured Paul Nicholls, cried off due to an ankle injury.

Nicholls, whose thigh injury had proved not as bad as first feared, was able to take his place even though not 100 per cent fit, but he was then forced out of the action early in the second half following an aerial challenge from Hornchurch midfielder Paul Shave.

Shave was booked when some referees might have taken a sterner view of a jump that was considerably more horizontal than vertical, and made contact with United’s keeper after he had safely collected a cross in both hands.

Nicholls tried to continue before collapsing again in pain and being helped off to be replaced in goal by midfielder Dean Palmer.

Although it was originally feared that he would have to go to hospital he was eventually allowed home after receiving medical attention at the ground.

The incident came just after Nicholls had been beaten by Kris Lee for the afternoon’s first goal and, although substitute Billy Dunn scored a superbly taken equaliser, United were beaten by a freak goal from Simon Parker five minutes later.

Before half time Sutton had been the better side and should have led at the break, although Hornchurch had finished the half strongly and then scored a minute in to the second half.

Chukki Eribenne sent an early header wide, and in the 17th minute home goalkeeper Dale Brightly scrambled the ball wide after Chris Collins, returning after his own injury, had diverted David Hughes’ shot goalwards.

A minute later, though, the home side looked certain to go ahead when Dean Green got the better of Charlie Ottaway, making his senior debut at left back for the injured Alan Bray, and crossed low for Andy Tomlinson, whose shot was going in until Simon Downer deflected it away for a corner, Downer also playing at full back with Simon Jackson injured.

United’s best chance fell to Gavin McCallum as he was put through by Eribenne, and although his shot beat the oncoming Brightly it went just wide.

Palmer also saw a shot deflected wide after Hughes had pulled the ball back in to his path, but Sutton couldn’t turn their superiority in to goals.

As the interval approached they had scares of their own as Lee Brown’s low shot was turned aside by Nicholls after Sutton had carelessly lost possession after a quick free kick.

Then, right on half time, they again gave the ball away on the edge of the area and Shave should have done better than turn Mark Goodfellow’s shot straight at Nicholls.

While his goalkeeping seemed unimpaired, Nicholls was having trouble with some clearances and immediately after the break he miskicked a left footed drop kick that allowed Green to again battle past Ottaway and pull the ball back, and Lee turned before firing a fine shot across Nicholls and in to the far corner.

Three minutes later came the incident that saw Nicholls injured and Shave booked, his fortune increased by having received two long lectures, but no card, in the first half, and Palmer had an early scare when Parker’s head met a right wing cross but directed the ball straight at the grateful stand-in keeper.

Moments later, though, substitute Dunn sprinted on to Eribenne’s pass and showed superb composure to take the ball round Brightly and slot home from an angle.

United were level for just six minutes, though, as a harshly awarded free kick in midfield was taken quickly out to Lee Brown on the left, and as Palmer came out for the cross he elected to try and punch the ball away but saw the ball rebound off Parker’s knee and loop in to the unguarded net.

Despite working hard to try and get back in to the game U’s failed to create the chances that they had before the interval, Karim El-Salahi just beaten to an Adam Wilde free kick on the one occasion that an equaliser did beckon.

At the other end Palmer produced one save of which Nicholls would have been proud, brilliantly turning over a shot from, of all people, Shave, and when Lee did lift the ball over Palmer three minutes later after running on to a free kick, Downer produced his second exceptional goalline clearance to ensure that Sutton didn’t suffer a heavier defeat than they deserved.

Hornchurch: D Brightly, M Goodfellow, L Brown, J Purdie, J McFarlane, A Tomlinson, P Shave(sub B Coyne 84), D Green, K Lee, S Parker (sub R Wall 83), D Barnard. Subs n/u L Hodges, M Stuart-Evans, M Bowditch. Goals: Lee (46), Parker (63). Booked: Shave (49-foul), Barnard (68-foul).

Sutton: P Nicholls (sub B Dunn 52), S Downer, C Ottaway(sub A Wilde 76), D Hughes C Collins, K El-Salahi, D Palmer, S McKimm , C Eribenne, C Dundas, G McCallum. Subs n/u M Hann, G Heeroo. Goal: Dunn (57).

Referee: G Atkins (Southend) Attendance: 359