Hampton & Richmond Borough salvaged a point in dramatic fashion against Hornchurch, scoring two goals in injury time to level the game at 2-2.

It was Henry Sandat and Angelo Balanta who put the Urchins up in the first half, before a late Harry Gibbs’ own goal and an even later Alan Massey finish turned the game on its head.

The Urchins came out flying and almost took the lead within 45 seconds as Alberto Balanta’s headed chance was parried onto the crossbar by the shoulder of debutant goalkeeper Aaron Maguire. Hornchurch forward Junior Morias found the rebound in the box, but his diving header went just wide of the post. 

The game settled after that chaotic opening minute, with Hornchurch establishing themselves as the dominant side. 

The fluid attack of Balanta, Morias and  Sandat were a dangerous trio in the final third, and midfielders Josh Rees and Tom Wraight did well to win back and maintain possession.

Balanta had another chance to put the Urchins ahead in the 17th minute but he dragged the ball wide of the post.

The Beavers seemed to be finding their feet in the game, but - just two minutes after he missed his own chance - Balanta created the opening goal. 

On the receiving end of a long  kick from ‘keeper Arthur Nasta, Balanta cut in from the left wing to beat David Longe-King and fired a shot at Maguire, who. did well to parry the shot away, but Sandat pounced on the rebound to put the Urchins ahead. 

Going behind lit a fire under the Beavers, as they played their best football of the first half in the following 15 minutes. 

They moved from a deep, defensive structure to an attack-minded one, and looked dangerous. Eduino Vaz threatened up the left side of the pitch, and Taylor Clark had two threatening chances, one saved by Nasta and the other, an awkward half-volley, going just wide. 

Energy built around the Bev as HRBFC looked to equalize, but the Urchins had their moments too. Morias dragged a shot wide, and Vaz timed an excellent challenge inside the box to stop a certain goal. 

Vaz had the Beavers’ chance of the half in the 43rd minute with a wonderful strike from distance, but Nasta just got his fingertips to the ball to push it onto the crossbar and out of play.

Just one minute later and on the counter, Morias was found on the right wing by an outside-footed pass from Sandat and laid the ball back to a charging Balanta who slotted the ball past Maguire to double Hornchurch’s lead just before the half.

The second half began much slower than the first, as the Urchins looked to take the sting out of the game. They sat deeper, and soaked up pressure while launching blistering counter attacks.

Brendan Kiernan looked bright, running in behind the Urchins behemoth back line and challenging Nasta in the 58th minute, but the Beavers couldn’t find a goal.

Two double substitutions were made as the clock ticked on, but Hornchurch defended well and created numerous chances on the counter. 

Hornchurch’s Charlie Pegrum missed a chance to put the game out of reach in the 87th as he put a chipped effort just wide of the goal.

That miss didn’t seem to bother the visitors, however, as the Beavers looked destined for a 2-0 loss. 

Cue Beaver time.

One minute into injury time, a flash of passes on the left side of the pitch sent Kiernan running down the flank, and his cross was put into the net for an own goal by centre back Gibbs.

On paper, it was merely a consolation goal, but those in the Bev - both on and off the pitch - were hungry for one more. And it was Alan Massey who delivered.

When a last-ditch cross fell to his feet in the 95th minute, the skipper guided the ball into the bottom right corner, sending Beveree Stadium into a frenzy. 

The game ended level, but it felt like a win for the Beavers faithful, keeping them above Farnborough and out of the relegation zone.

That’s now three games unbeaten, and four points taken against two of the best teams in the National League South. 

Come on, you Beavers!

HRBFC will travel to Hemel Hempstead for ‘El Tudorco’ on Tuesday, before they return to the Bev to host Chelmsford on Saturday. 

Get your tickets for the Valentine’s Day spectacle HERE!