Salisbury were denied all three points at the Ray Mac as Hornchuch struck deep into added time at the end of the game to share the spoils.
Salisbury led through Josh Hedges but were pegged back when George Saunders levelled as the game approached the break. The Whites retook the lead through Craig Fasanmade with less than 10 minutes remaining before a late equaliser from Scott Kashket meant the game ended level.
The home side started the game on the front foot, causing problems from the start. First, Noah Coppin fired just wide in the second minute, which was followed a few minutes later by a good strike from Ryan Penny from just outside the area.
The officials then denied Noah Coppin the opener in the 13th minute. The Salisbury forward charged down an attempted clearance from Hornchurch keeper Harry Seaden near the right touchline. Coppin then coolly rolled the ball from a tight angle into the back of the net. Unfortunately, the officials deemed that during the charge down, the ball had struck Coppin’s hand and awarded a freekick instead of the goal.
Salisbury came close again through Ragguette from a corner. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box. His first shot was blocked, and his second effort was tipped over the bar by Seaden.
The pressure from the home side kept coming, though, and finally, they found their breakthrough. Josh Hedges slotted home after a good move on the right involving three or four Salisbury players. Hedges cut inside before laying off the ball. Some good interplay saw Tom Leggett feeding Hedges on the box. He slid the ball into the bottom corner to score his fourth goal in four games.
Salisbury had chances to extend their lead, Seaden once again called into action to prevent Coppin getting on the score sheet and Luke Wilkinson headed over from a corner. However, Salisbury were made to pay for not converting their chances.
Salisbury conceded a freekick down the left-hand side of their penalty area and George Saunders got his angles right when he beat James Hillson at his near post direct from the freekick in the 40th minute to be level at half time.
The home side once again saw much of the ball, without threatening the Hornchuch goal where they had an injured Seaden with no back up ‘keeper on the bench.
Salisbury were almost caught on the break with Feni Akinwande showing a great turn of pace to get away from Wilkinson, but he shot wide after being put under pressure from a sliding tackle from Sido Jombati.
Salisbury very nearly took the lead when Hedges found room to get a strike away inside the box, but he saw his effort ricochet back off the bar in the 70th minute.
Brian Dutton made changes as his side looked to unlock the deep defending Hornchurch with Jaden Perez and Craig Fasanmade sent on to replace Ryan Penny and Aaron McCreadie respectively and it was the second change which paid dividends within two minutes.
Craig Fasanmade was the man in the right place to fire home after Salisbury’s initial shot was saved by Seaden, celebrating in front of the home fans and having a bottle of drink emptied over his head for good measure.
Hornchurch made their own changes and pushed forward to try and get something from the game and it was one of their subs that grabbed the equaliser in the 6th minute of added time. Scott Kashket took a chance from wide out from the right and again Hillson was beaten at his near post from out wide.
The result maintains Salisbury’s position in 13th in the Vanarama National League South table.
Upnext for Salisbury is a trip to Dorking on Saturday 19th October. SFC Supporter Club are running a coach, with places from just £20 per person.
