Young U's Lose Out In Senior Cup

A youthful U's side slipped to defeat in the Essex Senior Cup last night at AFC Hornchurch in an eventful game that saw them fall behind on three separate occasions.

With the notable exception of Matt Heath, the side was full of youth with the likes of Carl Pentney, Tosin Olufemi, Billy Roast, Jordan Sanderson, Alex Gilbey, Freddie Ladapo, Macauley Bonne, Jack Simmons and Tom Lapslie making appearances during the game.

Hornchurch are currently fighting against relegation from the Conference South, the level of the Chelmsford side that knocked the U's out of the FA Cup First Round, and Martin Tuohy opened the scoring for the hosts after fifteen minutes as he finished off a ball across goal.

Gilbey pulled one back for the U's just moments later, similarly burying the ball with ease from the six yard box. However, the hosts were again in front just before the break as a penalty conceded by Matt Heath was fired home by Tuohy once more on the rebound, after Pentney had initially saved.

As the game entered the final quarter of an hour, Ladapo pulled the U's level for a second time as he struck from the edge of the box past the keeper into the far corner of the goal.

Again, though, it only took a few moments for the game to twist once more, this time Tomlinson putting the hosts 3-2 to the good. That lead was doubled with ten minutes to go when Tuohy bagged his hat-trick and Hornchurch's fourth of the game, riding the challenge of two defenders before passing the ball past Pentney.

Although the U's pressed to get themselves back into the game and, indeed, an own goal from the hosts gave the U's hope, it was not to be for the young side who bowed out to a 4-3 scoreline.


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