HORSHAM 3 EAST PRESTON 2

HORSHAM:
1.Tom Baxter 2.Kevin Hemsley (Salaam) 3.Stuart Myall 4.Eddie French 5.Tom Graves 6.Gavin Bolger 7.Jacob Mingle (Davis) 8.Lewis Taylor 9.Lee Farrell 10.Matt Geard (Austin) 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Ian Payne 14.Yinka Salaam 15.Simon Austin 16.Danny Davis 17.Andy Howard
Goalscorers: Farrell (27), Taylor (42), Charman (108)

EAST PRESTON:
1.Tom Rand 2.Steve Metcalf 3.Paul Williams 4.Seb Keet (Georgiou) 5. Jay Head 6.James Virgo 7.Ben Harwood 8.Richard Carter 9.Kevin Budge (Oatway) 10.Phil Churchill (Darwin) 11.James Rhodes Subs: 12.Chris Georgiou 14.Charlie Oatway 15.Chris Darwin 16.Alex Briggs 17.Macifj Kason
Scorers: Budge (11), Rhodes (85)

reporter: Mark Wells
photographs: John Lines

"Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over. It is now !!"

104 years of Horsham's history finally came to an end in possiby the most appropriate way imaginable as the Hornets claimed a dramatic extra-time win against East Preston to claim the Brighton Charity Cup amid celebratory, yet emotional, scenes as supporters bade a fond farewell to what had become, for many, their spiritual home.

As send-offs go, this was a fairly low-key one, save for a commemorative poster proclaiming the Hornets' final game at their charming and much loved Queen Street ground. Perhaps it was the defeat by Billericay Town in the final league game that left the fans, and dozens of invited former players and staff, melancholy, and kept away from this last farewell by the weather and other, more trivial, events at Old Trafford. Yet those who wanted to pay their respects, those who perhaps just couldn't let go of the memories, took the regular route to their Mecca, sidestepping the puddles and taking up their familiar favoured vantage spot for the final time. For them, this wasn't just about the football, this was the end of an era. Not of life on the pitch, we hope, but off it as the club prepares to embark upon a two year groundshare deal with Worthing, ever hopeful of a swift agreement to develop the Holbrook Club and a triumphant return to the town.

In the event, this most minor of cup competitions produced a worthy contest to mark the occasion and a most fitting outcome for the host club. For all the hard work of the 'end of season committee', the commemorative memorabilia and the amazing scenes that had taken place 10 days before, it was left to Gary Charman to have the final say, firing home the winning goal at the cherished Cowshed end of the ground for Queen Street's last ever goal, 104 years and 34 days since a man named Cummings got the ball rolling for visiting Arundel in a West Sussex County League encounter. It might not have been a Champions League semi-final winner, nor even a promotion clinching goal, but this was destiny. Fate. No months of preparation could guarantee that Horsham's very own 'local hero', holder of more than 400 appearances for the club, would secure his name in the record books for eternity. Even 'Gazza' himself looked overwhelmed as he was engulfed by team-mates, all grateful to have finally broken their opponents' stubborn resistance after 108 minutes of enthralling action.

Rewind. The spectacular storm clouds that hung over Sussex and most of the South Coast all day threatened a soggy postponement but the decision to proceed was vindicated when the rain stopped, only to return with a vengeance to provide a poetic, tearful adieu at the final whistle. Determined to finish the season on a high, John Maggs reunited the exciting midfield pairing of Lewis Taylor and Player of the Year Jacob Mingle for probably the last time but the decision to pitch Matt Geard up front alongside former East Preston striker Lee Farrell took everyone by surprise, as did the last minute inclusion of under 18s goalkeeper Tom Baxter following the late withdrawal of Alan Mansfield. For the visitors, 4th placed finishers in the County League's top division, the evening provided a moment of nostalgia for Phil Churchill and coach Steve Barber, both of whom had given service to the Hornets in the past.

After the usual sparring of the opening moments, it was the home side who created the first efforts on goal, neither of which troubled Tom Rand in the East Preston goal. A deflected effort from Taylor earned a corner and then, 5 minutes later, Mingle shot over the top after a good lay-off from Charman. But it was the team in white who shocked the crowd by taking the lead after just 11 minutes. A free-kick from Richard Carter was cleared only as far as James Rhodes who flighted the ball towards the far post for skipper Jay Head to nod down and Kevin Budge swept the ball home from 6 yards. Although Charman sought to restore immediate parity with a determined run at the heart of the visitors' defence, a measured counter-attack saw Baxter having to show a safe pair of hands to gather Steve Metcalf's dangerous looking cross to prevent the visitors from doubling their lead.

Despite some surface water, the pitch appeared to be playing surprisingly well and Horsham's best move so far saw Geard's fine cross headed wastefully wide of the target by Charman. The same player then showed great control in the centre of the pitch to flick the ball over Carter but Rand was equal to the shot from distance, making a decent stop with Geard waiting to pick up any pieces. The Hornets were beginning to settle but so, too, was Rand and the young stopper produced a wonderful save to deny Farrell after 20 minutes when the forward brought down Geard's clever chip to send a searing volley towards the top of the net only to see it tipped behind for a corner.

Rand was there again to deny Horsham in their next move, forced low to his left to field a scuffed effort from Geard, but the County Leaguers reminded their senior opponents of the threat they carried when Stuart Myall appeared to have been fouled only for referee Phil Nicholas to wave play on but Tom Lawley could only find the outside of the post with Baxter quickly off his line to narrow the angle. The escape proved crucial as, 7 minutes later, the Hornets fought their way back in to the game. The vision of Gavin Bolger was the decisive factor, looking up and picking out Farrell with an inch perfect pass that allowed the striker to shoot across Rand and in to the far corner for his 15th of the season.

This was developing in to a good contest but Maggs' men were steadily getting in to their groove and Geard sent a promising effort wide, despite being tripped en route to the goal. Maggs made the first of his changes on 35 minutes, with Yinka Salaam replacing Kevin Hemsley, but it wasn't long before the home side threatened again, Taylor's header plucked out of the air by Rand from a fine cross by Mingle. However, there was little the goalkeeper could do about Horsham's second goal, 3 minutes before the break, that was to send the home side in to the half-time interval with a lead they just about deserved. Another excellent ball in to space saw Farrell initially beaten by Rand, who made a good stop on the edge of the area, only for the ball to be played back across the face of the penalty area for Taylor to drill home before racing off to acknowledge the crowd who had come to appreciate his swashbuckling style during his 2 seasons at the club. But for Rand, Taylor might have left one further present for the fans when Salaam's perfect cross found the midfielder unmarked but, as he tried to dink the ball over the keeper's head, Rand stuck out an arm to keep East Preston in the contest.

H/T: Horsham 2 East Preston 1

Time for that last half-time cuppa before the restart and we were underway again, with no further changes to the personnel nor, thankfully, the weather. Rand stood up to an early challenge, claiming the ball well under pressure from Charman and Farrell, leaving a watching Horsham YMCA official to rue the club's decision to release this outstanding prospect at the start of an ultimately traumatic season for the Hornets' near neighbours.

A powerful run from Taylor took him from the heart of the Horsham half to the edge of their opponents' penalty area before laying the ball out wide to Charman but Farrell couldn't match what had gone before, scooping a first time shot over the top. Taylor was fortunate to escape censure by the laid-back Mr Nicholas when he pulled back Richard Carter to stop a rare East Preston attack from developing but the home side continued to press and both Charman and Geard came close to extending the lead. Geard was assuming a central role up front, finding himself with a shooting opportunity seemingly every few minutes. Picked out by a pass from Salaam, Geard jinked his way past Budge and sent in an effort that required more swerve to trouble the 'keeper but he forced a save from Rand when he turned well and hit a sharp, left-footed drive from 20 yards that was destined for the bottom corner.

The young custodian then blocked an attempted cross from Farrell, after great approach play between Mingle and Taylor, as visiting boss Chris White made his first change of the night in bringing on Chris Darwin for Churchill with half an hour remaining. Farrell was unlucky to see his goalbound effort deflected wide, although not as unfortunate as Charman, whose head the ball hit on its way towards goal, but there was no ill-feeling as Charman quickly set up Farrell for a chance that Rand tipped over before saving Geard's strong header from the resulting corner kick.

Salaam went close with a shot on the run, to end a good flowing move from the Hornets, before another effort from Geard dipped too late to change the scoreline. Williams finally had sight of Baxter's goal but could only send a weak shot wide of the post before Geard continued his one man crusade to get on to the scoresheet when he sent a free-kick over the crossbar after Charman received a painful blow to the face, courtesy of a raised knee from Budge.

Baxter showed that his concentrations levels remained high, despite being a virtual spectator since re-emerging from the changing rooms after half-time, when Darwin raced away down the left flank and crossed low for Rhodes who was thwarted first by the goalkeeper and then by French as he tried to force the ball home at the near post. A further substitution by the visitors saw Chris Georgiou replace Seb Keet but East Preston almost went 3-1 down within minutes of the switch when Geard's driven pass was helped on to Taylor by Charman and, as he bore down on goal, Taylor was denied only by the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper who managed to push the ball around the post with Eddie French heading the subsequent corner over the top.

The Hornets have been punished many times this season for their failure to close a game out, through their own profligate finishing, and so it was to prove again when, just 2 minutes after Simon Austin's introduction for the impressive Geard, they were hit with an equalising goal. A clever flick by Rhodes set up a shooting possibility for Darwin and, when the ball cannoned away off Baxter's body, Rhodes was on hand to tuck away the rebound to set up the prospect of extra-time.

Amazingly, Horsham were to spurn 3 outstanding chances to grab what would surely to prove to be the winner in the 5 minutes of normal time that remained. Rand, who else, prevented Farrell from netting his second of the night when he dived sharply to turn the ball away and the Horsham man then hit the side netting from an acute angle before Taylor was left shaking his head after his arcing header looked set to drop under the crossbar only for a gloved hand to divert it away for a corner. In one final assault on the East Preston goal, Mingle put Farrell in but, despite finally beating the 'keeper, the shot crept agonisingly past the far post and time was up, but not before Charman clashed angrily with Budge who became Mr Nicholas' first booking of the night.

Score after 90 minutes: Horsham 2 East Preston 2

The first period of extra-time was, understandably, short on goalmouth action as East Preston seemed content on containment and worked diligently to keep the home side at bay. In fact it was the visitors who went closest to scoring next when Rhodes collected a loose clearance from Graves and played the ball in to the area where Budge, offside, was denied by a superb reflex save by Baxter although the linesman's raised flag would have ruled out any different outcome.

Mingle was given a deserved ovation when he departed, with Danny Davis coming on in his stead, while Charman saw his downward header blocked by a defender to leave just 15 minutes for the game to produce its hero.....or villain.

Just 3 minutes in to the second period we had both, although to label Tom Rand as the villain would be harsh in the extreme but it was his untypical error that was to gift Horsham the crucial breakthrough. Carter's jinking run in to the box was curtailed by Graves' timely intervention and the Hornets quickly countered, with Farrell turning away from his marker to release Austin down the left. A cross from the overlapping Taylor was chested down expertly by Farrell only for Davis to be denied by substitute Georgiou's thundering challenge. The danger wasn't over, though, and the ball was played back towards the edge of the area where Charman took a couple of touches before hitting a low drive through a crowd of players that squirmed under the diving 'keeper's body to leave every one of the visiting players with their head in their hands. The goalscorer looked overwhelmed. Was it embarrassment, a sense of sympathy even, for the fateful Rand or was it the sudden realisation that after more than 10 years at the club, emerging through the youth ranks to become a modern day Queen Street legend, he had fulfilled perhaps his greatest achievement by scoring the final, winning, goal at the Queen Street ground.

Budge made way for Charlie Oatway but the youngster's fresh legs made little difference for the visitors who were forced to chase the game, leaving gaps that their more experienced opponents looked to exploit further. More strong running from Taylor set up Austin for a chance that was blocked and Rand was off his line smartly to claim the ball ahead of Davis. The County Leaguers were beginning to tire and Horsham seemed content to run the ball in to the corners, wasting a few precious moments as the clock ticked towards its unwanted, yet inevitable, climax. Taylor sent an awesome drive against the crossbar from 20 yards, the rain began to fall and then, at last, it was all over.

It was hard not to feel sorry for East Preston but this was Horsham's night. A time to remember and a time to look forward. The trophy presentation was received surely as warmly as any in the last 104 years before the players and supporters drifted away in to the drizzling night. One last lingering look at the glistening, verdant pitch, the wiping away of the rain, or was it a tear, from the cheek and it was over.

Farewell Queen Street....thanks for all the memories. We'll miss ya !