Hornchurch 1
Carshalton Athletic 1
Carshalton Athletic made it six games unbeaten as a late equaliser from Femi Akinwande ensured a share of the spoils with ten man Hornchurch.
The hosts dominated the first half with Sam Higgins and Rickie Hayles both going close from Tom Wraight corners, and as such it came as no surprise when the Urchins broke the deadlock from a Wraight delivery after half an hour. The former Maidstone midfielder unleashed a long throw into the Carshalton penalty area that was flicked on by Hayles to the back post where Higgins was on hand to poke home from close range for his 20th goal of the season.
The second period saw further chances for the Urchins however Mark Stimson's men were unbale to show why they are the highest scorers in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Just before the hour mark Mickey Parcell swung in a delightful cross to the back post that was met by Joe Christou. The Ex Tilbury man headed the ball back across goal and towards the far corner but Bradley Williams got back to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.
With 15 minutes left to play a flurry of Carshalton mistakes allowed Higgins to break down the right wing. The 33 year old then played the ball across to Christou in the centre whose deflected strike dropped agonisingly wide of the target.
Hornchurch would be made to pay for these missed opportunities as in the 86th minute the Robins equalised. A low cross from Aaron Joseph-Smith picked out fellow substitute Tom Vigor, and the Crystal Palace loanee's blocked shot was then scrambled home from close range by Akinwande. This strike being the 26 year old's eighth in Carshalton colours.
However three minutes later the Urchins had the ball in the back of the visitor's net but the linesman's flag came to the Robins rescue. A Jack Munns free kick was headed home from six yards by an unmarked Hayles, despite Danny Bracken getting a strong hand to it, however the linesman adjudged Hornchurch's number five to be offside and the goal was chalked off.
Things then went from bad to worse for Hornchurch as from a disallowed winner they were then reduced to ten men. Carshalton's Calvin Ekpiteta charged down a loose ball and cleared it down the line but the 26 year old was caught with a late studs-up challenge from Lewwis Spence which resulted in the Urchins' skipper receiving his marching orders.
Despite the man disadvantage Hornchurch held on for a point that sees them stay top - one point ahead of Cray Wanderers. Stimson's side are now winless in two games but they are still able to boast their unbeaten home record.
A point for Carshalton sees the Robins slip down to 8th in the table as Steve McKimm's outfit made it four games unbeaten on their travels.
ATT: 779
Hornchurch: Wright, Parcell, Sutton, J. Clark, Hayles, Wraight, Christou (Munns 79'), Spence, Higgins, Nash (Brown 72'), Muldoon
Goals: Higgins 26'
Yellow cards: Hayles 49'
Red cards: Spence 90+1'
Carshalton Athletic: Bracken, Lema, Lee, Sow, Bradford (Vigor 57'), Akinwande, Akrofi (Smith-Joseph 65'), Hamblin, Williams, Ekpiteta, Cumberbatch
Goals: Akinwande 86'
Yellow cards: Akinwande 87'
By Nathan Williams
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