Parselle shoulders the blame as City edged out by league leaders

A controversial stoppage time penalty denied City a well-earned draw against unbeaten league leaders Hornchurch this afternoon. Moments after they had made it 2-2 through a penalty kick of their own, a high swirling ball into the area struck Kieran Parselle just below his shoulder but the referee adjudged it to be a deliberate handball to gift the Urchins the three points.

The opening exchanges showed why the hosts came into the game three points clear at the top of the table as Harvey Wiles-Richards had to be at his best to keep Balanta’s shot out then the same player saw a shot fly narrowly wide. The game settled down after this but it was still against the run of play when City took a 22nd minute lead. A training ground corner routine worked perfectly as Parselle dummied Will Jenkins Davies kick for Brad Ash to drive a low shot into the net from 10 yards. The lead only lasted seven minutes though. A long ball forward finding Hearn and he lashed a shot high into the roof of the net past Wiles-Richards. Both sides then saw dangerous crosses flash across the six-yard box without anyone managing to apply the vital touch to see the game reach the interval level.

Parity only lasted four minutes into the second half, Hearn crossing for Ruff to head home. Just past the hour mark Wiles-Richards blocked Hearn’s close range shot to keep City in the game. On 74 minutes it took a stunning reaction save from home keeper Nasta to keep out Joe Raynes’ shot. That looked to have secured the points for Hornchurch but with two minutes left Jordan Tillson was pushed in the back as he set himself to shoot and the referee pointed to the spot – Jenkins Davies making no mistake from 12 yards. However, substitute McQueen was equally clinical when handed the opportunity six minutes later and City left were left to reflect on late penalty heartbreak for a second successive league game.