And just like that, Worthing are home. It didn’t quite have the glitz or the glamour of the last outing at Woodside Road, but it did re-unite a community in a homecoming that was long overdue.

It’s been some time since a side last kept a clean sheet against Worthing on home turf — 196 days to be exact — but the Rebels can come away from this with a barrel of positives having endured the opening month of the season solely on the roads of the southern part of this nation.

No goals in either net, yet the chances showered down on Hornchurch goalkeeper Mason Terry, who had a quite superb game between the posts. And whilst the spotlight might not have been shining on this Rebels’ attack – which has been frothing for much of the campaign – it did harvest a first clean sheet of the season, and that proved to be the story of the day’s play.

The Urchins have started life in National League South positively having cruised to Isthmian Premier promotion last season, though they were a touch tentative in the opening stages here as they tried to suppress the persistent threat of the Rebels’ sharp attacking line.

Joe Cook produced a fine goal-saving challenge to prevent a shot on goal, executing the challenge with surgical precision after the forward had raced in behind.

For all of Worthing’s possession, they rode their luck at times in an opening half that lacked that final execution. Chris Agutter’s side had enjoyed an excellent week with wins at Hampton & Richmond and Boreham Wood, though here they saw much more of the ball, but were ineffectual in the final third.

It wasn’t until the 38th minute where Worthing formed their first complete attack of the afternoon. It was the move of the half that had started inside the Rebels’ own half and, if not for the fingertips of Terry, Cashman would have been wheeling away in delight.

As time ticked closer to the half-time break the hosts began to seize control of the contest. Willard next to test Terry with a fine strike from outside the box, but it was a too straight at the Urchins’ ‘keeper, and he was able to cling on to the ball, and the scoreline.

Mere seconds had passed before Willard was firing one at goal once again. Terry again equal to it, this was a strike arrowed along the blades of astro that was destined to rumble the net. Sprawling low to this right, Terry was there again to deny an opener, and the half was soon at an end.

As the clouds continued to cling to the sky, the players returned to a floodlit arena that has hastily taken shape over the summer. Nearing completion, it promises to further place the club in the right direction.

There hadn’t been too much in the way of a Hornchurch opening in first 45 minutes of play, yet they emerged out of the tunnel revitalised and almost took the lead from a close-range header, which Chris Haigh was excellent equal to.

The noise began to swirl around a feverish Woodside Road as the second half wore on. It was a battling, bruising half, and Hornchurch executed their game-plan to complete perfection. Stemming the hosts’ flurry of attacks – chiefly through their goalkeeper Terry – Worthing simply could find no way through the barrage of blue and white cladded shirts.

It was not the final ball that was lacking, more the final effort as both sides had chances inside the box. Angelo Balanta headed over before Jack Spong had a strike saved by the legs of Terry again after Jack Bates threaded a delicate, delicious ball into his path.

Harrison Smith joined the fray, but soon he’d be hobbling off the pitch again bandaged up – Terry Butcher style – having endured a nasty clash of heads in the centre of the pitch.

For one final throw of the dice, Chris Agutter opted for Sam Packham and Jake Hutchinson, but no matter what they through at the resolute defence of The Urchins, they simply could not crack open the shell.

It might not have been the homecoming they had wished for, though it so nearly was in the dying moments as Terry again produced a magnificent save to deny Packham.

The curtain falls, and the points are shared. It won’t go down as a classic, but it should be remembered for its defensive guile in a game of both missed chances and last-ditch brilliance.