Manager Scott Bartlett handed competitive Weston starts to Michael Smith and Dylan Mitchell, while midweek signing Luke Skinner was named on the bench.

The Seagulls started well on a hot day in Essex as Will Dawes made a timely interception and played the ball to Sam Pearson, whose 25-yard curling effort drew a good save from Arthur Nasta, before Luke Coulson hit the side netting from a tight angle.

But it was Hornchurch who took the lead against the run of play when Josh Hare’s teasing cross from the right was emphatically headed home by Urchins’ skipper Tom Wraight.

And not long after the hosts doubled their lead when another wicked delivery from Charlee Adams’ corner was flicked on to Angelo Balanta at the back post, and he nodded home to make Weston’s task even harder.

HALF-TIME: Hornchurch 2-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC

There were two changes at half-time as Jacob Jagger Cane and Skinner were introduced to the fray, and their impact was almost immediate as it helped The Seagulls get back into the game.

Jagger Cane won the ball in midfield and played it to James Dodd, whose superb pass through to Coulson saw last season’s top scorer in behind the Hornchurch defence, but he steered his shot just wide.

The Seagulls were enjoying the majority of the possession and they grabbed a deserved goal almost midway through the half. Smith’s smart ball over the top found the dangerous Skinner, who smartly turned his man and advanced towards the area before unleashing a tremendous left-footed shot that evaded Nasta and smacked against the inside of the post before hitting the back of the net.

Dodd again showed his impressive range of passing with another great ball to Coulson, whose inviting cross was headed just over by Louis Britton.

The Seagulls kept coming forward and got the equaliser they richly deserved, and it was Smith who assisted once more as his perfect ball found Pearson and he expertly lifted the ball over the onrushing Nasta to level the scores.

Jagger Cane nearly put Weston ahead when his strike from 25 yards whistled just wide of the post, before fellow sub Skinner had a similar shot that was held by Nasta.

The Urchins then had a rare attack and Max Harris made a wonderful save to deny Charlie Ruff. From the corner, the ball was cleared but from the next cross the ball found Nathan Bertram-Cooper and his header from close-range back across goal found the corner of the net.

As The Seagulls searched for another equaliser, Britton went close again from Skinner’s ball across the box. Weston’s last chance came from a late corner, Harris came forward and there was nearly another sensational last minute goal at the Hornchurch Stadium, but Harris headed just over the crossbar.

Seconds later, the referee blew his full-time whistle on an entertaining game, as Weston now prepare for next Saturday’s game with Chelmsford City at the Optima Stadium.

FULL-TIME: Hornchurch 3-2 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Wraight 13′, Balanta 26′, Bertram-Cooper 85′; Skinner 65′, Pearson 77′)

Weston: Harris, Smith, Martin, Avery, Wood, Dodd, Mitchell (Jagger Cane HT), Dawes (Skinner HT), Pearson, Coulson, Britton

Unused substitutes: Glover, Pope, Hicks, Salmon, Waite.

Attendance: 703

Man of the Match: Luke Skinner. Got Weston back into the game with his well-taken goal and was a real threat after coming on at half-time.