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reporter:
Jim Bravery
videos: Tim Harrison
photographs: John Lines
Horsham's inconsistent
form took an up-turn as they moved back in to the promotion play-off
places with a deserved 2-0 win against Boreham Wood. The Hornets had
suffered two heavy defeats in the past fortnight to leave their
promotion hopes in doubt but a repeat of the drubbings against Harrow
Borough and Staines Town was never on the cards from the moment Simon
Austin gave the visitors a 9th minute lead. Kevin Hemsley marked his
return to action by doubling the lead, 11 minutes later, to leave John
Maggs' side convincing winners and Boreham Wood looking nervously over
their shoulders at the relegation places.
Dwain Clarke was handed his first start for the visitors, a week after
joining from Staines, and his debut was marked by rain, hailstones,
sun, snow and freezing temperatures - a stark contrast to the sultry
conditions that accompanied the Hornets' 3-2 victory when the two
sides met at Queen Street back in August. Clarke took his place on the
right flank for a Horsham side that fielded an all centre-half line-up
in defence with Tom Graves assuming the left-back role, in the absence
of Nigel Brake and Matt Geard, with Hemsley coming in at right-back
for his first start in 14 games. There was a change, too, in attack
where Lee Farrell was left on the bench for Austin, back after a one
match suspension, to partner Jacob Mingle. Boreham Wood had been
tipped by many for a play-off place at the start of the season but
have endured a disappointing campaign and even the appointment of the
controversial George Borg in to the Meadow Park hot seat had failed to
lift their flagging fortunes that had seen them slip down to 17th
place following Folkestone's Good Friday success against Harlow Town.
Horsham got the game underway, kicking in to a gale with the odd snow
flurry making life uncomfortable for the players and it was the
visitors who adapted quickest by keeping the ball intelligently on the
ground and, although the hosts enjoyed some useful possession, their
attacks seemed to peter out before reaching the danger area. With Lee
Carney pulling the strings in midfield, Clarke and Gary Charman
providing a lively outlet on the wings, and Mingle and Lewis Taylor in
positive mood, things were starting to happen for Maggs' side and
Austin
gave them the perfect start by applying a deft finish to a
beautifully created sequence of passes for a 9th minute lead. Within
minutes, though, all of Horsham's good work was almost undone when a
couple of wayward passes from Graves almost let in Steve Wales and
only the combined efforts of skipper Eddie French and Andy Howard
averted the danger.
A reckless challenge from behind by Anthony Fenton on Mingle earned
the Boreham Wood defender a yellow card and the Horsham man was denied
by Shane Herbert, just minutes after the home custodian had kept out a
30 yarder from Charman. Clarke was making his presence felt with some
telling crosses and, when one such delivery found Charman on the far
side of the penalty area, the long serving winger bravely headed the
ball back in to the box for the unlikely figure of
Hemsley
to calmly
take it round Herbert and knock the ball in to the back of the net for
a 2-0 lead to effectively end the contest after just 19 minutes.
Charman paid the price for his commitment and required treatment
before being able to continue.
Horsham continued to build their attacks but, all too often, ended up
trying long range shots or played a disappointing final pass that was
overhit or intercepted by the overworked home defence. In the 23rd
minute, the hosts replaced Chris Bangura with Paul Armstrong in what
seemed a tactical, rather than enforced, substitution. Taylor was
cautioned for a wild lunge on Greg Morgan, in apparent retribution for
a challenge that had left Carney in a heap, and the ensuing free-kick
saw Danny Barber fire narrowly wide of Paul Seuke's goal from 25
yards. Leon Archer also tried his luck from distance but Hemsley was
able to usher the ball out of play and French came to Charman's aid
when he was dispossessed on the halfway line and Simon Thomas broke
quickly only to be forced wide by the reliable defender.
Clarke and Charman switched wings for a brief spell and the move
almost paid dividends when Charman raced away and pulled the ball back
for Carney but the midfielder was unable to make a clean connection
and Herbert made an easy save. The home side's first true goalbound
effort came after 35 minutes when the diving Seuke conceded a corner
from Morgan who couldn't believe his shot hadn't found the net. The
visitors continued to knock the ball about stylishly but, every so
often, were forced to defend and Morgan again tested the Horsham
'keeper who showed impeccable handling despite the swirling wind.
Morgan and Thomas were both off target as half-time approached and
referee Forrester blew for the interval after deciding that just a
solitary minute of additional time was required.
H/T Boreham Wood 0 Horsham 2
With a blizzard of hail and snow driving in to the faces of the
supporters queuing for their half-time cuppa, the players were clearly
oblivious to the arctic conditions that awaited their return and
emerged somewhat sheepishly for the second half and some hastily opted
for gloves and tights after seeing the pitch covered in the white
hailstones and temperatures plummeting to around zero.
Straight from the restart, Fenton was forced to head away a dangerous
corner from Clarke who had been restored to the right wing and, at the
other end, Horsham survived a goalmouth scramble when Archer's shot
had to be palmed away by Seuke at the far post and cleared by the
back-pedalling Charman who quickly showed his worth at both ends of
the pitch when he powered in a shot that was blocked by the legs of
Ollie Adedeji as the half provided plenty of action to warm the hardy
fans. On 52 minutes, a fine cross from Simon Peddie was headed clear
by Hemsley but, with Wales picking up the loose ball, it meant that
Seuke had to be at his best by diving at the forward's feet to make a
good save.
Five minutes later, the Hornets were denied a 3rd goal after another
brilliant build up that tore the home defence apart. Carney hit an
inch perfect pass out to Charman and he turned Preddie one way and
then the other before hitting a great ball in to the penalty area
where the swinging boot of Taylor connected perfectly, sending a
stunning volley smacking against the crossbar with Herbert well
beaten. The game was becoming more end-to-end and, once again, Seuke
had to be alert after Armstrong had found Thomas unmarked with a pass
inside the back four and the goalkeeper had to throw himself bravely
at the forward's feet to avert the danger.
A terrible mistake by Adedeji almost put Charman in on goal but,
instead of trying luck, he elected to square the ball to the unmarked
Austin who, looking slightly offside, slipped at the vital moment and
any chance of a 3rd goal quickly disappeared. Two efforts from the
home side continued to keep Seuke on his toes. Firstly an effort from
Wales only just cleared the crossbar while Seuke came to Howard's
rescue after the defender had intercepted a ball destined for his
goalkeeper only to give it straight to Archer who laid it off for
Thomas and it was left to Seuke to save a the striker's feet once
more.
Clarke was helped off the pitch after initially appearing to have
suffered from cramp but, with Farrell unprepared for his introduction,
Horsham were forced to play out a further 4 minutes with just 10 men.
The eventual switch saw Mingle drop back in to the middle, and Taylor
out to the right hand side, to accommodate the former Lewes frontman
but it did little to disrupt the visitors' play as Carney and Taylor
continued some fine inter-passing, carving open the home defence time
and again with Herbert called upon to avert any potential danger.
The 70th minute almost produced another goal and again it was Carney
threading a fine pass to Taylor but a good block prevented the shot
from finding its target. Mingle was fortunate to avoid a booking for
disputing a free-kick but a breakaway by Taylor, who showed superb
control and skill, enabled him to get a cross in to the box where the
unmarked Farrell should have applied the clinical finish but volleyed
just wide of the post with Herbert's goal at his mercy. Boreham Wood
continued to pose a threat and Morgan and Archer both missed with
reasonable efforts but more neat one-touch passing between Carney and
Farrell saw Herbert race quickly from his line to save ahead of
Farrell.
A second substitution by the hosts saw Ola Williams replace Peddie as
the game moved towards its conclusion and it ended with the Black and
Whites in the ascendancy, Wales forcing a corner from French and
following that up with a shot that had Seuke punching clear, but the
Hornets' reaction to the midweek trouncing at Staines had Maggs
waiting to congratulate all his players for an outstanding display in
difficult conditions.
NEXT MATCH: v Tonbridge Angels (h)
Monday 24th March ko 3.00pm |
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