Paul Shave gives AFC Hornchurch narrow win over Brentwood.
AFC Hornchurch 2-1 Brentwood Town
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
First Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 17 October 2009
Winning clubs will receive £2,300 from The FA prize fund
Click here for all the First Round Qualifying results
Paul Shave’s 76th-minute header sealed victory for AFC Hornchurch over local rivals Brentwood Town in a closely fought encounter at Bridge Avenue.
Only the M25 separates the the two Essex towns and there was little between the evenly matched sides on a crisp autumn afternoon in Hornchurch.
Midfielder Shave looped his header across the stranded Brentwood goalkeeper to give his side a victory they marginally deserved on the balance on play. Earlier, Jo Flack had latched on to a swirling cross to put the Urchins a goal ahead two minutes before half-time.
Albanian striker Petrit Elbi equalised for the visitors five minutes after the restart, only to see Shave snatch the glory for the home side fourteen minutes from time.
The Urchins have struggled so far this season in the Isthmian League Premier Division, taking only eleven points from eleven matches, so this was a welcome victory for the home fans amongst a 235 attendance.
Hornchurch Club Secretary Kerry Street said: “It was a tight and scrappy game - both sides had opportunities to grab a victory.
“But I think we just about edged it and deserved our win on the day.”