It was a heart-breaking end to Thamesmead’s pre-Christmas campaign, after it had looked as though Paul Vines’ header on 66 minutes would make it three wins on the trot and a very happy festive season.

But SIX minutes into stoppage time, Leon McKenzie played the part of the Grinch with a header of his own to secure a point that Hornchurch’s overall performance richly deserved.

Without the suspended Tyrus Gordon-Young, who had scored three goals in his previous two games, Thamesmead struggled to find an option who could hold the ball up in the first period, meaning that Hornchurch were able to control the game inside the home half.

It took just 34 seconds for the first chance to fall to Hornchurch as the Thamesmead defence was caught out by a straight ball over the top.  David Knight was quickest to react and, with defenders trailing in his wake, attempted an early lob over Andy Walker, who moved his feet quickly to punch the shot away.

The visitor’s high pressing game almost caught the Thamesmead defence out when Walker played a short goalkick out to Jack Barry, but as the defender looked to play up the field, his clearance struck George Purcell, with the ball looping onto the top of the empty net.

Elliott Styles then powered a header against the upright, although Thamesmead were saved by the official’s whistle, and even when the home side could get the ball into the Hornchurch area, they were still vulnerable to the counter-attack.  Paul Vines attempted an acrobatic volley, but couldn’t make a firm contact, and as the Urchins broke clear, Joe May was able to force a shot towards goal with Walker scrambling across the area.

The first half was punctuated by two stoppages for treatment to Thamesmead players following a clash of heads, the first of which seemed to limit Theo Fairweather-Johnson’s participation.  The home side seemed to have found a way to unlock the Urchins’ defence as Lee Prescott played a through ball down the outside of the left centreback for Shoma Barnwell, but it was a defender in a yellow shirt who cleared the danger.

Billy Coyne was having success with crosses from midway in the Thamesmead half with Knight twice drawing saves from Walker, but the keeper had little answer to a Knight header that glanced wide following some tricky wing play by Purcell.

On 38, Purcell crashed a 25-yard freekick against Walker’s right post, which left the woodwork shaking, which would have been no less that the visitors deserved for their first half performance, but the period ended goalless.

The early exchanges of the second half appeared to be following the same pattern as Walker was forced to bravely smother another chance for Knight, running in from the right to meet Purcell’s crossfield pass.

Whatever Thamesmead manager, Terry Spillane, said at the interval started to take effect as Paul Vines in particular started to show off the more aggressive side of his game, making life difficult for the Hornchurch defenders.  Vines outmuscled Nathan Cooper to set up a chance for Fairweather-Johnson, who shot through the legs of the defenders to force the first real save from Sam Mott.

On 58 minutes, there was a scare for the home side as Leon McKenzie broke into the right side of the area and clipped a shot over Walker that seemed to be heading wide.  Unseen by the Thamesmead defence was a run from Cooper who slid towards the back post and could only divert the ball wide with the goal gaping.

The opening goal definitely came against the run of play, and was instigated by an adventurous run from left-back Jay Porter.  His powerful burst caught out the Hornchurch midfield, and the eventual shot dipped viciously in front of Mott, with Paul Goodacre on hand to concede a corner.  From Derek Duncan’s set-piece, Vines rose highest to deflect his header into the corner of the net.

With Lee Prescott starting to dominate the midfield areas, Hornchurch’s attacking ideas became more and more desperate, relying on Purcell long shots that failed to trouble Walker’s net, and a McKenzie shot that was dragged wide.

Deep into stoppage time, Thamesmead failed to clear a corner, and even with 10 men inside their area, Urchin’s skipper Elliott Styles was given time to fire a shot inches past the right post.  And the visitors earned themselves a point with the last touch of the game as Jed Chudman’s hopeful ball was met by McKenzie’s glancing header, which nestled in the corner of Walker’s net.

After a run of one win in eight that had seen Thamesmead slip down the table, it’s now seven points from nine to bring some cheer to their supporters ahead of the busy Christmas period.

THAMESMEAD TOWN: Andy Walker, Ben Glasgow, Jay Porter, Farai Hallam, Jack Barry, Marc Gorbell, Lee Prescott, Derek Duncan (Michael Azaiya 86), Paul Vines, Theo Fairweather-Johnson (Tommy Spillane 90), Shoma Barnwell (Richard Butler 50).

Subs not used: Elliott Usher, Max Ovenden.

Goal: Paul Vines 66

AFC HORNCHURCH: Sam Mott, Billy Coyne, Jed Chudman, Joe May, Nathan Cooper, Paul Goodacre, David Knight (Calvin Poku 84), Elliott Styles, Leon McKenzie, George Purcell, Alex Bentley.

Subs not used: Dave Collis, Charlie Dove, Abs Thompson.

Goal: Leon McKenzie 90+6

Attendance: 133
Referee: Mr Dele Sotimirin
Assistants: Mr David Joseph and Mr Ken Kikulwe