Hornchurch’s inevitable onslaught towards the Conference South title continued at Milton Road as they surged to a seventh successive victory despite City’s best efforts to match the expensively assembled Essex outfit.

With goalkeeper Duncan Roberts and striker Jon Stevenson both sidelined for some time to come as a result of injuries sustained during defeat at the hands of Grays on Saturday, Alan Calton and Paul Fewings were drafted into an otherwise unchanged Lilywhites’starting line-up. For the visitors, 2-0 winners at Carshalton on Saturday, midfielder Adie Harris made way for latest signing Simon Weatherstone, a £25,000 capture from Yeovil.

The Urchins laid siege to the City goal from the outset, only two minutes into his recall Alan Calton was forced into a spectacular one handed stop to deny Jamie Stuart’s powerful header from Damon Searle’s corner kick. Overwhelmed, the Lilywhites then conceded the early goal they were desperately trying to avert. Richard Scott was pressurised by Wayne Purser on the edge of his own penalty area, an attempted back-pass fell short of Alan Calton who was left in no-man’s land as a result. Scott’s efforts to retrieve the situation resulted in Purser going over his outstretched leg. Mr Stanton pointed to the spot and former Spurs’ midfielder Darren Caskey made no mistake lashing the ball to the right of Calton and into the net.

Not content with a single goal Hornchurch surged forward again and another slick passing move created a heading opportunity for Purser forcing Lee Chaffey into a timely block at close range. Moving the ball from one end of the field to the other at lightening pace the Urchins then freed Caskey down the right who, in turn, flighted a perfectly weighted centre into the path of Lee Elam at the far post but the former Yeovil midfielder fired wide.

With their defenders comfortable bringing the ball forward too, Searle then progressed down the left before feeding the elusive Caskey who presented Weatherstone with a shooting opportunity that forced Calton to get down smartly to his right and gather.

There were still less than fifteen minutes on the clock when this sustained pressure yielded an inevitable second. Caskey, looking every inch a player who had performed at the highest level, stroked a slide rule pass to Elam wide on the left, his whipped cross found fellow ex-Glover Purser who planted a textbook header beyond the helpless Calton.

There was no let up from the visitors as they continued to surge forward, Purser beat Craig Pope in the air setting up Elam who forced Calton into yet another important save.

There was real concern amongst the City faithful at this stage that the Lilywhites were going the same way as Basingstoke who were recently hit for six by the league leaders. But in much the same way as Saturday the home side held their nerve and battled their way courageously back into the contest.

Able to string a few passes together for the first time Lee Chaffey fed Dale Binns who sped away down the left squaring dangerously across the face of goal forcing Ashley Bayes to parry, Lee Matthews resultant clearance launched an immediate response from the visitors and Weatherstone again tested Calton from distance.

With Binns as the principal outlet the tricky winger then collected Lee Chaffey’s throw and angled a centre across the box that was allowed to travel all the way to the far post where Carl Williams crashed the ball against the foot of the upright from point blank range.

Richard Scott then set the Lilywhites in motion again, effecting a block from a long range Weatherstone effort he quickly switched play freeing Binns who accelerated away from Scott Gooding before firing disappointingly wide when one-on-one with Bayes. As the half drew to a close Scott was the orchestrator once again angling a through ball across the Hornchurch back line and into the path of Sadler on the City right, connecting first time the former Hinckley striker sent a rising drive arrowing towards the top corner of the net before Bayes intervened with a fine save.

The second period again proved to be something of a mirror image of Saturday. Whilst the Lilywhites endeavoured to set the early tempo with Paul Fewings producing a smart turn when collecting Pope’s lofted pass before firing high and wide, Hornchurch successfully took the heat out of proceedings by retaining possession to good effect.

Dave Sadler showed his frustration with a poor challenge on Lee Matthews that earned him a yellow card.

City retained their composure despite their failure to penetrate the Urchins well organised defence and a patient passing move created the space for an unlikely Matt Langston drive that was too hot for Bayes to hold, forcing the former Leyton Orient custodian to beat the ball away from the danger area.

In an attempt to inject some pace Gary Roberts then made two changes in quick succession, firstly Robbie Simpson replaced Paul Fewings then Peterborough United loanee Shane Huke was introduced at the expense of Rob Miller.

The Lilywhites still posed the greater goal threat at this stage. On receipt of Richard Scott’s crossfield pass Dale Binns jinked past Scott Gooding before firing low to Bayes’ near post, the ‘keeper again grateful to keep the ball out of the net before Matthews tidied up. Craig Pope’s searching centre then found Binns and Sadler closing in on the far post, it was the number nine who got the final touch firing wide from close range.

As if stung into action by City’s sustained efforts Hornchurch then produced a moment of class to set the seal on their victory. Showing tremendous movement off the ball Elam drifted between defenders on the City left and shaped perfectly to receive Caskey’s pass before planting a cross on the forehead of Kirk Jackson to convert from close range.

Gary Hill then took the opportunity to ring the changes, introducing Danny Shipp and Jean-Michel Sigere for Jackson and Purser respectively in a double swap inside the last ten minutes.

There was still time for Glen Fuff to connect powerfully with Richard Scott’s corner and for Adie Harris to get a brief run out in place of Elam before Mr Stanton finally brought proceedings to a close.

Back to back home defeats, no goals scored and five conceded, yet City are sure to play worse than they did Saturday and tonight and still win games this season such is the gulf in class between Grays and more especially Hornchurch and the rest of the division. The Lilywhites can look forward to the remainder of the season safe in the knowledge that they are playing in a way that will get them results. As for Hornchurch, probably the most accomplished team to play at this level in recent memory and on this form unlikely to drop many more points before May.