Club news
Written by: Stuart
Lewes gained a point at championship favourites Hornchurch, but left Essex ruing missed chances to take all three points.
With Johnville Renee joining Enfield Town, Archie Tamplin was given his debut for the Rooks at right-back, whilst Razz Coleman De-Graft started his first game since the 2nd January, with Ryan Gondoh dropping down to the bench.
The Rooks made a positive start, with Razz forcing the Honchurch keeper into an early save, then Deon Moore hit one from distance which flew over the bar. However, in the 14th minute Moore’s cross from the left was met on the volley by Joe Taylor to score his 30th goal of the season.
Two minutes later Hornchurch had their best chance of the game when Lew Carey had to be alive to a Sam Higgins effort, and again with a better save from the Hornchurch hot-shot in the 20th minute.
In the 31st minute a smart move between Joe Taylor and Razz saw the latter with a golden chance but he pulled his shot across the goal. The Rooks were left to rue that miss as within a couple of minutes Hornchurch were level, when Ellis Brown turned the ball in at the far post after build-up play by Ade Yusuff and Sam Higgins.
Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break , with the Rooks fans encouraged by another well-struck effort by Razz, who appeared back to his best in the first period.
The hosts almost took the lead within the first minute when an overhead Higgins effort was tipped over by Carey, but that was the only clear-cut chance for either side in the third quarter of the game. But with Ryan Gondoh on for Razz with twenty minutes to go, the Rooks took the lead, Moore once again the provider with his cross, and the substitute Gondoh turning the ball in.
Three minutes later and the Rooks should have put the game to bed when Tyrique Hyde went clean through but the Hornchurch keeper did really well to stop his effort. Two minutes later and the scores were level when Sam Higgins continued his long streak of scoring against Lewes when he headed in a Muldoon corner at the near post.
The Hornchurch striker had the chance to win the game in the last minute but once again, Lewis Carey was in the right place to make the save.
The point was more useful for the Rooks than the Urchins, with it all still to play for in a tough month ahead.
The Rooks host another promotion-chasing side next Saturday at The Dripping Pan, when Enfield Town arrive.
Kick off 3pm. Hornchurch: Johnson, Parcell, Sutton, Clark, Bertram-Cooper, Wraight, Brown, Muldoon, Higgins, Nash, Yusuff (Dickson 89mins) Subs not used: Stimson, Mascoll, Hayles, Oladipo Lewes: Carey, Tamplin, Mundle-Smith, Salmon, Champion, Olukoga, Hyde, Young (Pritchard 59mins), Coleman De-Graft (Gondoh 71mins), Moore, Taylor Subs not used: Murrell-Williamson Booked: Pritchard Attendance: 528 (approx. 50 Rooks)