Horsham 1 v AFC Wimbledon 1
Saturday 17th February 2007
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham had to settle for a fifth draw in six home matches after a sensational late save by Andy Little prevented them from claiming a first ever win against visiting AFC Wimbledon. The Dons 'keeper broke Horsham hearts when he threw himself full-length to turn away Gary Charman's 88th minute piledriver that left both sides with a point apiece from a lively encounter played out in front of Queen Street's biggest crowd of the season.

The visitors arrived on the back of a six match winning run that had propelled them up the league table to third place, with just goal difference separating them from leaders Margate, although their impressive run of form may be in vein with the much publicised threat of an eighteen point deduction hanging over their heads. Horsham had topped the table themselves when the sides had fought out a 0-0 draw at the Kingsmeadow in December but had picked up just three league victories since then. The most recent of them, Tuesday night's 3-1 win at Carshalton Athletic, had put the players in confident mood ahead of the weekend's big fixture although they were to have to do without the services of Lee Farrell whose loan spell had come to an end this week. Despite the determined efforts of manager John Maggs and his staff, attempts to sign Erith & Belvedere's Ireland under 20 striker Adrian Deane came to nought after Deane elected to remain with the Kent League side so Lee Carney was pushed forward from midfield to partner thirteen goal Carl Rook up front.

The match kicked off with the Dons' impressive following united in their condemnation of one of a wild challenge by Lewis Taylor inside the opening minutes. A loose ball was contested in centre midfield between former Dons player Taylor and Wes Daly with Taylor's reckless two-footed lunge leaving his opponent needing treatment, earning the Horsham man a stern lecture from referee Saliy who would have been fully justified had he shown the red card. Fortunately, the match settled down and Steve Ferguson, AFC's loan signing from Woking, was the first to get in a shot on goal but his twenty-five yard effort sailed into the trees behind Alan Mansfield's goal. Mansfield's opposite number had to be alert when a good move involving Carney and Gary Charman was ended with Little whipping the ball off of the winger's toes. As expected by a side who had won six matches in a row, the Dons enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges and the lively Roscoe D'Sane, a Lewes goalscorer against Horsham in last season's Sussex Senior Cup Final, arrowed a shot inches over the top before sending a free header over the crossbar from close range. Taylor finally picked up a booking for halting Jermaine Darlington's dangerous run and Mansfield was brought into action once more, tipping a good shot round the post from the impressive Daly. Paul Lorraine headed a right wing corner just wide but Horsham's attempts on goal during the first half an hour were lacklustre with Rook's header, from John Westcott's free-kick, probably the clearest chance although Little made a comfortable claim. Stuart Myall made way for Tom Graves after the full-back looked to have pulled a muscle, leaving the field to warm applause from a group of visiting fans with whom he'd enjoyed some lively banter during the game, and Graves could hardly have been given a sterner test for his first action in three weeks. Mansfield was out quickly to dive at the feet of Steve Wales, after being put through by Daly, and D'Sane was presented with an opportunity when he was put clear with little over five minutes of the half remaining. However, with Graves and Kevin Hemsley in pursuit, the Dons' forward dragged his shot wide of the far post. The home side forced a corner with half-time approaching but Charman's kick was headed goalwards by Hemsley only for Little to make a routine save. But the half ended almost as it had begun with tempers flaring as Rook and Lorraine squared up to each other after a challenge.

With the two sides unchanged during the break, the match was to continue its pattern after it with Lorraine forcing a save from Mansfield after getting on the end of Daly's corner. Within six minutes of the restart, the Dons took the lead. Wales was quicker than Jacob Mingle to a loose ball, just inside the Horsham half, and advanced towards the penalty area before playing a one-two with D'Sane and tucking the ball neatly past Mansfield. The goal seemed to shake the hosts into action and, five minutes after scoring, Wales was back defending, dispossessing Charman who was making in-roads down the left and looking menacing. Michael Haswell had to concede a corner after Nigel Brake's devilish cross had eluded Little but the left-back's delivery was less impressive after Carney had been impeded on the edge of the area and Brake's free-kick posed more of a danger to the corner flag than the visitors' goal. However, Horsham were to draw level on sixty-five minutes when a long clearance from Mansfield found Westcott unmarked on the right touchline and the winger's attempted cross clattered off Haswell and out for a corner. The ball was played back to Westcott whose floated in-swinger was missed by the stooping Carney who profited from the scramble, and a stumble by Little, to turn and thump the ball into the net from close range for a deserved leveller. With twenty minutes remaining, AFC Wimbledon boss Dave Anderson made a double substitution, replacing Darlington and Wales with Chris Gell and Paul Barnes, and French had to be alert amid the resulting confusion to stop a surging run from Luke Garrard. The latter stages of the match saw both teams going for the win, producing an end-to-end encounter that was a credit to the Ryman Premier Division. Carney's influence was increasing, showing signs that his old creativity is still there despite spending so long on the sidelines in recent months, and Mingle's workrate saw him prominent in both defence and attack. A forward run from the former Staines Town midfielder won his side a corner from which Charman rose highest to direct a corner towards the goals but Hemsley, off balance, could only slice the ball wide of the post. It was Hemsley who began Horsham's next move with a good clearance picking out Carney who had time and space to set up Mingle but his long range effort just cleared Little's bar as Maggs' side continued to apply the pressure. Gell replied for the visitors, sending a shot off target, and Carney went close at the other end with a header. Wimbledon supporters were left bemoaning their luck when Mansfield, an impenetrable barrier in the December meeting, denied their side again with a tremendous save from Gell's rasping volley. This served to be the visitors' final attempt on goal as the last eight or nine minutes belonged to the home side. An excellent cross was headed over his own bar by Garrard and, from the resulting corner, Westcott's perfect delivery found the head of French whose back header beat everyone but bounced away to safety off the top of the crossbar, to Little's obvious relief. Graves hit an inch perfect crossfield pass to Charman for his team-mate to cut inside and shoot but the effort lacked power and gave Little an easy save. With a couple of minutes remaining, and both sets of supporters apparently settling for the draw, French won a 50/50 challenge with Daly and the ball dropped invitingly for Taylor whose forward pass was helped into the box by Carney. Steve Butler's interception prevented Rook from latching on to the pass but, as the Dons' number five struggled to his feet, Charman picked up the scuffed clearance and unleashed a thunderbolt that seemed destined for the top corner of the net. But, in a carbon copy of Mansfield's last ditch save at the Kingsmeadow, Little produced a breathtaking save to turn the ball over the top that drew admiring applause from all four corners of the ground.

Mr Saliy's whistle brought the pulsating finale to an end and Wimbledon supporters were able to celebrate going top of the table after Margate and Bromley suffered surprising defeats but whether they remain there this week rests not with the players but with the decision of the League as they consider the club's appeal. The Hornets leapfrog Ramsgate into seventh place, four points from a play-off spot, after the Rams were beaten 3-0 at home by Leyton.

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Stuart Myall (Graves) 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott 9.Lee Carney 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Substitutes: 12.Tom Graves 14.Matt Geard 15.Dean Wright 16.Jamie Baxter 17.Gareth Williams

AFC Wimbledon: 1.Andy Little 2.Simon Sweeney 3.Michael Haswell 4.Luke Garrard 5.Steve Butler 6.Paul Lorraine 7.Steve Ferguson 8.Wes Daly 9.Steve Wales (Gell) 10.Roscoe D'Sane 11.Jermaine Darlington (Barnes) Substitutes: 12.Chris Gell 13.Paul Smith 14.Paul Barnes 15.Lewis Cook

Goalscorers:

Horsham - Carney (65)

AFC Wimbledon - Wales (52)

Attendance - 1486