The opposition view of last Saturday

Through the eyes of AFC Hornchurch, here is the match report from their official website:

Urchins inflict Payne on Hamlet

A superb brace from new signing Stefan Payne and a screamer from George Purcell confined Dulwich Hamlet to their first defeat of the season.

The South Circular Road, together with the difficulties of parking at Dulwich, encouraged several to make the trip by train, and bright sunshine and heatwave conditions greeted everyone on arrival.

On an immaculate playing surface, Dulwich delighted the home following with some neat inter-passing and approach work, though they rarely threatened the Hornchurch goal. Hornchurch took time to settle, until a fifty yard cross-field pass by Derek Duncan found Chris Bourne, who touched back to Frankie Curley, but the move, which opened up the left side of the Hamlet defence, came to nothing when Curley’s pass was intercepted.

It quickly became apparent that Erhun Oztumer was prominent in many of the home forages up field, though the closest they came to a goal was a well flighted free kick by Kevin James, which was saved by Inigo Echepare, who dived full length to punch clear.

Hornchurch began to come more into the game as an attacking force, thanks to some solid defending by Elliot Styles, Billy Coyne and Rickie Hayles, who, with Alex Bentley, nullified the clever approach work by Dulwich.

George Purcell almost opened the scoring with a first time shot from the left wing, which Phil Wilson tipped around the post. Duncan took the corner, and after the ball had bobbled around in the goalmouth, Phil Starkey fired narrowly wide of the post.

Dulwich missed a clear cut chance to take the lead when Mathieu Boyer broke through, but, with Styles closing in rapidly, and Inigo rushing out to narrow the angle, he hit his shot wide of the post.

A minute later Hornchurch took the lead with a classic goal. GEORGE PURCELL took possession forty yards out, and with most anticipating a pass out to Carl Rook, who had drawn the defence out to the left, George hammered the ball home, to be greeted by a stunned silence from the home crowd.

Purcell almost increased the lead shortly afterwards, his shot from a narrow angle flashing wide of the post, whilst a Duncan free kick found Hayles, whose header was turned around the post for a corner.

Dulwich continued to press forward at every opportunity, and drew level when NYREN CLUNIS converted a low cross from the left wing.

Defences remained on top for the remainder of the half, and although Dulwich had the better of the territorial play, on the few occasions they did get the ball close to goal, Inigo was ready and waiting.

Towards half time the home crowd were incensed when Duncan made a tackle on the edge of the area, indicating to the referee that in their opinion it should have been a free kick. The referee, who had a very impressive game, allowed play to continue, as the home side had the advantage, but Styles broke up the attack and play swung from end to end for almost two minutes before Hornchurch were awarded a free kick at the other end for a similar tackle, at which point the referee booked Duncan for the original offence.

Hornchurch began the second half confidently, and Purcell almost scored with a hard drive, which cannoned back off a defender to Bentley, whose follow up shot was well saved by Wilson.

Elliot Styles went close with a header from a Duncan free kick, the ball being tipped over by Wilson for another corner.

Chris Bourne was beginning to find gaps on the wing, and he exchanged passes with Phil Starkey, who played the ball out to Billy Coyne on the opposite wing, Coyne’s dipping cross forcing Wilson to turn the ball out for a further corner.

And then it was time for a change – two, in fact. Stefan Payne came on for Rook, and Tambeson Eyong replaced Bourne.

Dulwich were already finding it difficult in the face of a series of Hornchurch attacks, and the joint appearance of Eyong and Payne soon had its effect.

Eyong won the ball on the edge of the Hornchurch area, and began the move which led to Peter Adeniyi intercepting a pass on the edge of the Hamlet area. He was quickly dispossessed by STEFAN PAYNE who calmly strode forward and glided the ball past Wilson.

Dulwich had a half chance to level, but the move was broken up by an excellent tackle by Elliot Styles, though the home crowd considered it was a penalty. The home bench was not amused, and the linesman signalled to the referee accordingly. The result was a booking for Adeniyi, and a lengthy lecture directed at the home bench.

Play was restarted and swung to the other end, where STEFAN PAYNE again, who collected a pass from Purcell, and calmly strode through the home defence to glide the ball home to give Hornchurch a comfortable lead.

Time for defence, and Joey May replaced George Purcell.

For the remainder of the match, Dulwich threw everyone forward, at times leaving gaps at the back, and although Hornchurch continued to threaten, Dulwich missed two good chances, with Ahmed Deen firing wide when well placed, and Ryan James repeating the performance a minute later. When they did eventually get a shot on target, Inigo made the save of the match from Ryan James to keep the ball out.

Into stoppage time, and Rickie Hayles conceded a penalty, which was converted by ERHUN OZTUMER, but Hornchurch comfortably defended the remaining two minutes, and deservedly took all three points.