Magpies spiked by Urchins (24.04.04)

AN EXCRUCIATINGLY narrow defeat in Hornchurch condemned United’s loyal band of fans to an agonising final week of the season, on which all now depends.
Not that many of the travelling supporters have any genuine grounds for complaint, at least not about Saturday’s performance, which was characterised by an uncompromising commitment to the cause.
On the day, however, the full-timers had too much for the battling Magpies and probably did just enough to earn the points.
This gulf in quality was particularly evident in the first half, when the hosts dominated both possession and territory, although it was United who started and ended the period on top, with Danny Bolt twice threatened to unlock the hosts’ notoriously miserly defence in the opening few minutes.
The first clear scoring chance fell at the other end, however, when the lively Andy Douglas pounced on a loose ball and chipped it over the advancing Nick Hart.
Fortunately, Bryan Smith was alive to the danger and rushed in behind his keeper to boot the ball away.
As the half progressed, Jon Keeling became an increasingly bothersome thorn in
United’s side and it was the diminutive midfielder who nearly crafted the opening goal, with his beautifully disguised reverse pass putting Douglas clean through United’s back line.
A pin-point cross found Bertie Brayley on the edge of the six yard box, who powered his header just wide of the upright, although the linesman’s flag might yet have saved the day.
Hornchurch’s final chance of the half fell on 40 minutes, when Douglas’s close-range effort was smothered by the massed ranks of defenders, while the follow-up shot was shinned over the bar.
Having survived the storm, United finished with a flourish and went mightily close to scoring the goal of the season, when Bolt’s 45th minute corner was met on the full by Ryan Ashe on the edge of the box.
The sweetest of strikes sent the ball screaming towards goal, only for the highly impressive Danny Gay to stretch out a hand and somehow divert it round the post for a corner.
The killer blow fell shortly after the break, when Keith Rowland swung a corner to the far post, where it was scrambled home by Gavin McGowan.
Slightly controversially, several observers thought the ball had gone out of play, but neither the referee nor his assistant agreed and the goal stood.
The rest of the half belonged to the Magpies, with Bolt forcing another fine save from Gay on 55 minutes, with a sublime left-footed snap shot from 25 yards.
Lawrence Yaku then skied a volley over the bar from 12 yards out when one-on-one with the keeper, before drifting an attempted lob just wide of the upright.
Desperate for a goal, manager John Dreyer rang the changes, throwing Ben Hammond and Mark Boyce into the fray.
Almost immediately, Rob Haworth went close with a header, which Gay initially dropped before gathering the ball at Yaku’s feet.
Unfortunately, United failed to trouble Gay again, as Hornchurch closed up shop and comfortably held out until the final whistle.

DRESSED TO KILL: Striker Rob Haworth holds off a challenge during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Hornchurch, as United’s merry band of supporters, sporting their traditional end-of-season fancy dress, watch on in hope. Picture by Nigel Keene.