Bob Batchford’s play-off-winning Youth Team started their extended season in the Eastern Junior Alliance with the visit of the Urchins to Melbourne Park. Having already secured a League and County Cup double – now they were in the hunt for the treble!

City where still stuck in the starting blocks when the game got underway when some indecisive defending allowed a Hornchurch striker to tap in with only 4 minutes on the clock to make it 1-0 to the visitors. That was a massive wake-up call and the Clarets then livened up and started to show what they were all about.

Five minutes later they got themselves back on level terms with a well-worked move from left to right seeing Tyrone Scarlett pull the ball back for the onrushing Ross Lamb who finished-off a great piece of football. City then upped the pace and started to create more opportunities but were just unable to convert any of them. Both teams were fairly even the first half, which finished all-square to leaving the second half tightly-poised.

Hornchurch again started brightest, creating early chances without causing ‘keeper Lewis Batchford any major trouble. Heavy legs from a long season started to take their toll, so City made two substitutions and introduced the fresh legs of Ryan Cooper and Adam Vyse which made an immediate impact when a miss-hit corner from Andy Elgar found its way back to Vyse who struck an 18-yard screamer into the bottom right corner.

Chelmsford’s front four tested the away team in every attack and the inevitable happened when, once again, Vyse found himself in the right place to bury his second and City’s third to make it 3-1. Fifteen minutes remained when a cross into the hosts’ 18-yard box saw Hornchurch awarded a penalty for handball, but Batchford saved low down to his right and maintained the two goal cushion. Then a quick break led to a far-post cross which was headed home by Vyse to complete the perfect hat-trick.

The game was almost up when Hornchurch were awarded a free kick and one more opportunity at goal and, in a moment of madness, the ball travelled 40 yards bounced once and ended up in the back of the net. But there were only seconds left and City held on for a very impressive first win in the play-offs. Their next fixture against Hitchin Town at Melbourne in midweek was called off due to Hitchin pulling out, so the next match is away to Grays Athletic this Sunday at the Loughton Academy Ground.

City: Lewis Batchford, Lee Monk (Adam Vyse, 60), Sean Jackson, Ryan Batchford (C), Ben Mason, Pearce Clarke, Stuart Latimer (Rob Clarke, 70), Bradley Williams (Ryan Cooper, 55), Tyrone Scarlett, Ross Lamb, Andy Elgar. Unused Substitutes: Dan Elsey.

Photo: THP Sport Imaging