HORSHAM 3 BOREHAM WOOD 2

HORSHAM:
1.Alan Mansfield 2.Tom Graves (Myall) 3.Nigel Brake 4.Andy Howard 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott 9.Lee Farrell (Wright) (French) 10.Gary Charman 11.Lee Carney Subs: 12.Eddie French 14.Yinka Salaam 15.Stuart Myall 16.Dean Wright 17.Rob Frankland
Scorers: Charman (10), Carney (12), Taylor (51)

BOREHAM WOOD:
1.Noel Imber 2.Marvin Samuel 3.Ryan Moran 4.Tommy Williams (Gregson) 5.Mark Smith 6.Joe Reynolds 7.Greg Morgan 8.Byron Harrison (Lockett) 9.Chris Bangura 10.Simon Thomas 11.Chris Watters (Antoine) Subs: 12.Luke Gregson 14.Michael Cox 15. Ryan Lockett 16.Leon Antoine
Scorers: Bangura (34), Lockett (79)

reporter: Mark Barrett
photographs by John Lines

Lewis Taylor's 51st minute strike was enough to send Horsham to the top of the Ryman Premier Division table as they edged out Boreham Wood at a sunny Atspeed Stadium. However, it was a far from convincing performance from John Maggs' men as Wood fought them all the way in an entertaining encounter but the Hornets held on to take advantage of AFC Wimbledon and Billericay Town dropping points at the league's summit. Gary Charman and Lee Carney gave Horsham a 2-0 lead after just 12 minutes although the visitors posed a nervous looking home defence plenty of problems early on. The hosts suffered a major blow when Lee Farrell had to go off after just half an hour, after picking up a knee injury when he appeared to catch his studs in the ground, and Wood took full advantage reducing the arrears almost immediately through Chris Bangura. Taylor's stunning strike looked to have settled the home nerves but the visitors were in no mood to roll over and substitute Ryan Lockett pulled another goal back to set up an anxious finale.

Horsham began the game without Carl Rook, who was still suffering with a back injury, so manager John Maggs decided to play Charman alongside Farrell up front. The long overdue summer sun beat down on to the Queen Street pitch as the game kicked off and it was a lively start with Charman delivering a dangerous cross in the very first minute which Tommy Williams had to head behind. The visitors then almost took the lead, a minute later, when Thomas held off Andy Howard before firing a shot which came back off the right hand post with Howard cautioned for his attempts at pulling the Boreham Wood man back as he homed in on goal. John Westcott then produced a testing cross which was palmed away by Wood's experienced 'keeper, Noel Imber. The Hornets then clicked in to gear and took the lead in the 10th minute when Graves delivered a cross from the right and Charman looped a superb trademark header over Imber from the edge of the area. Charman was clearly revelling in his new role and he had a huge hand in Horsham's second goal, two minutes later. The home faithful were probably breathing a despairing sigh when Westcott checked back on to his left foot to cross from the right but the winger did well to pick out Charman at the far post and he headed down for Carney to bundle the ball over the line. Ryan Morgan became the second player to go in to the referee's notebook for a foul on Westcott and Alan Mansfield was kept busy when former Tottenham apprentice Chris Bangura twice forced saves from the Horsham 'keeper. Chris Watters then crossed for Greg Morgan to flash a volley over in the 27th minute. The home side were forced to regroup following Farrell's withdrawal and his replacement, Dean Wright, barely had the opportunity to touch the ball before Boreham Wood pulled a goal back in the 34th minute. Dallying in defence saw the ball stuck beneath Tom Graves' feet, Byron Harrison won possession from the right-back before squaring to Bangura to drill home from eight yards for his 3rd goal in 3 games. Graves lasted just a few more minutes before being replaced by Stuart Myall as the Hornets' defence continued to look uncomfortable. Wright looked to take the heat off the back four with a typically busy display, in the thick of it at the other end as he twice had efforts blocked by Marvin Samuels. Watters then shot at Mansfield as the hosts held on to their half-time lead.

H/T: Horsham 2 Boreham Wood 1

Thomas headed a good chance over, 3 minutes after the restart, before Horsham regained their two goal cushion with a goal of stunning quality.  A corner from the visitors was taken well by Mansfield who quickly launched a counter-attack by releasing Charman who showed great pace and determination, running sixty yards before finding Taylor. The energetic midfielder displayed great control to take the ball on his chest before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Imber and in to the back of the net. Not content with that contribution, Charman then set up Jacob Mingle who saw his shot saved by Imber. Williams was then replaced by Luke Gregson. Despite having a two goal lead, the home fans were still quite tense and, but for some poor finishing, the visitors would have taken something from the game.  Watters' attempted cross came back off Mansfield's crossbar in the 65th minute and then the stopper did well, saving with his feet from Thomas. Thomas then lobbed over with the goal gaping although Horsham players were incensed after it had initially looked as though Howard had been fouled by Bangura and then Thomas had appeared to be well offside. Mingle, who had already had an altercation with Imber, was booked for an off the ball incident as Horsham struggled to keep possession of the ball. Wood made a double substitution in the 73rd minute when Harrison and Watters were replaced by Lockett and Leon Antoine and the two of them combined within 5 minutes with Lockett showing some nice footwork on the edge of the area before firing a low shot past Mansfield. Charman had the chance to put the ball out of reach but sidefooted straight at Imber before Eddie French was introduced for the tiring Wright in injury time. Mingle saw a shot blocked by Imber and there was a late scare for home fans when Antoine headed a superb opportunity over at the death.

More match photos can be found here

NEXT MATCH: v Margate (a) Monday 27th August ko 3.00pm