AFC Hornchurch 1-4 Bowers & Pitsea

(McKenzie 17': Leahy 25', Warner 51', 84', Manor 57')

From Bridge Avenue

Ryman North

BOWERS & Pitsea missed out on a Ryman North play-off place despite securing a superb 4-1 win at AFC Hornchurch.

A brace from Brad Warner, along with a goal apiece from Callum Leahy and Lewis Manor, cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener for the Urchins.

But Rob Small's side needed Norwich United to defeat fifth-placed Haringey Borough to have any chance of claiming the final play-off place. But a 1-1 draw saw Haringey finish the season one point clear of Bowers.

The hosts, who will face Thurrock in the Ryman North play-off semi-finals, took a 17th minute lead as McKenzie flicked an Alex Bentley free kick beyond Bowers goalkeeper Martyn Guest.

But Bowers, who started the game brightly, pushed for an equaliser and forced Hornchurch number one Sam Mott into a number of fine saves.

The Bowers breakthrough came on 25 minutes, as Leahy headed home.

Warner, who came into the game in fine form having notched four goals in the 5-2 win over Great Wakering Rovers in midweek, blazed two chances over the crossbar as Bowers applied more pressure.

Teddy Nesbitt forced Guest into a good stop just before half time, before the Bowers goalkeeper made a smart save to deny McKenzie soon after the interval.

But Bowers turned the game on its head after 51 minutes as Warner found the corner of the net from a free kick.

Just six minutes later, Bowers claimed their third of the afternoon as Manor, who was expected to miss the game after picking up a calf injury in the midweek win over Wakering, converted a corner.

Warner claimed his second of the game with just six minutes to play as he headed in a Bowers corner which had taken a deflection off Hornchurch defender Nathan Cooper on the way through to the striker.

The convincing win over AFC Hornchurch was fully deserved for Bowers, but Small's side will be playing in the Ryman North once again next season.

Bowers & Pitsea: Guest, Clark, Nyanja, Stokes, Manor (Whitnell 85'), Sartain, Hine, Leahy, Knight, Warner (Russell 84'), Coley (Salmon 85')