AFC Hornchurch 2-0 Grays Athletic

Ryman Premier League

 

GRAYS Athletic’s struggles continued into the New Year as they went down 2-0 at bottom-of-the-table AFC Hornchurch.

Goals from former Billericay Town man Junior Luke and George Purcell proved enough for the hosts, who were good value for the points.

And Hornchurch started on top, with Dominic Smith inches away from getting a telling touch on a ball across the face of goal.

Grays’ Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson was denied by Sam Mott in the home goal, before top scorer Freddie Ladapo shot over the bar.

Conor Gough, back in goal after Lamar Johnson dropped to the bench, saved well from Purcell, with the same man shooting inches wide of the post soon after.

Substitute Dumebi Dumaka shot over under pressure before Smith saw an effort scrambled off the goal line.

But the goal did come soon after the break, as Purcell’s neat pass put Luke in the clear, for him to slot past Gough.

And the excellent Purcell doubled that advantage soon after, picking up a ball from Tobi Jospeh and sliding the ball beyond Gough’s reach.

*Grays match against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Grays Athletic: Gough, Morrison-Derbyshire, Siva, Leader, Parry, Stevens (Wickham), Zerafa (Fry), Beaney, Fortnam-Tomlinson (Dumaka), Ladapo, Carlos