AFC Hornchurch 4, Chelmsford City 3
URCHINS won through to the final of the Essex Senior Cup, where they will meet Colchester, in a real thriller on Tuesday evening.
Hornchurch took the lead in the fifth minute, when Billy Coyne played the ball along to Michael Spencer who centred for Rikki Burbridge to power his header goalwards, where Ashley Harrison made an excellent save to turn the ball around the post. Andy Tomlinson took the corner and Elliot Styles headed powerfully into the net.
A very long stoppage followed when Styles and Ricky Modeste collided heavily in midfield, and both had to be substituted.
City levelled on 27 minutes with a good shot from outside the area by Ricky Holmes but within seven minutes Hornchurch were ahead again, Jo Flack powering home a header.
The lead was extended two minutes before half time when Ryan Kaylor crashed home a shot.
City came out strongly in the second half and put Hornchurch under pressure though the home side had a great chance to extend their lead when they got a penalty for handball, but Harrison saved Jamie Dormer’s spot kick.
The game looked all but over when Flack head home Urchins’ fourth with 15 minutes to go but the visitors rallied within a minute through a Dave Rainford penalty after John Martin went down inside the area.
City threw everyone forward and pulled another goal back when Robert Edmans lobbed the ball home with just four minutes left but they were unable to grab an equaliser.