HORSHAM 1 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 2

HORSHAM:
1.Paul Seuke 2.Yinka Salaam 3.Stuart Myall 4.Tom Graves 5.Andy Howard 6.Gavin Bolger 7.Dean Lovegrove (Carney) 8.Lewis Taylor 9.Steve Davies (Austin) 10.Lee Farrell 11.Gary Charman (Mingle) Subs: 12.Eddie French 14.Lee Carney 15.Jacob Mingle 16.Simon Austin 17.Rob Frankland
Goalscorers: Mingle (45)

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS:
1.Ollie Morris-Sanders 2.Ryan Hull 3.Craig Ewing 4.Adam Passfield (Fisher) Nathan Clarke 5.Daryl Bourgeois 6.George Lay (Reddaway) 7.Gary Burrell 8.Adam Gillespie 9.Sean Marks 10.Reggie Savage 11.Dave Wareham (R.Bowyer) Subs: 12.Luke Fisher 14.Mark Reddaway 15.Richard Bowyer 16.Barry Lakin 17.Jamie Boyer
Goalscorers: Wareham (55), Savage (59)

reporter: Mark Wells

Horsham suffered a promotion setback after falling  to a surprise defeat against lowly Heybridge Swifts that left John Maggs angry and frustrated at his side's failure to build on their recent performances against AFC Hornchurch and Chelmsford, nor on the lead given them by the returning Jacob Mingle on the stroke of half-time, allowing a busy and hard working Heybridge to take the lead inside 14 second half minutes, a lead they rarely looked like relinquishing for the remainder of the contest.

Although not wholly disastrous, this defeat saw another of the Hornets' games in hand used up without making further headway on AFC Wimbledon, whose victory against Margate on the same night sent the Dons 10 points clear in second place. The omens were encouraging for Horsham fans at the kick-off, though. Not only had the visitors won just once on their league travels this season but their former Horsham striker, 20 goal Stafford Browne, had failed to make the long journey south and, with Gary Charman declared fit to start and Mingle and Lee Carney on the bench, it augured well for the Hornets to further enforce their promotion aspirations.

The Swifts were tipped by many to be among the front runners this season but a poor run of results had left them hovering close to the relegation zone until new signing Reggie Savage inspired them to victory over AFC Wimbledon at the weekend, giving them renewed confidence and it showed as they attacked their hosts from the kick-off, launching a three man assault that gave Hornets 'keeper Paul Seuke an early claim from George Lay's cross.

Horsham had an early appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Mr Bull, when Steve Davies went down in the box while competing for a knock down from Charman, but  the opening 20 minutes saw possession traded equally without either side threatening their opponent's goal. Charman had been at the heart of some of the home side's best approach play and it was he who had the first meaningful effort of the night when he turned away from Adam Passfield, cut inside and sent a shot towards the far corner where Olly Morris-Sanders made a comfortable save.

The effort prompted Heybridge in to an instant response and Sean Marks should have done better than head wide from Gary Burrell's hanging cross. The sparring over, chances began to present themselves and Charman was heavily involved in Horsham's next attack when his determination saw the ball played out to Lee Farrell, and thence to Stuart Myall whose pass to Charman was laid off perfectly for Dean Lovegrove to go close to marking his home debut with a goal only for Morris-Sanders to save well, low down at his right-hand post.

Sadly, Charman's evening was about to come to yet another premature end. The winger had lasted just 45 minutes at Carshalton Athletic before a niggling back injury ruled him out of that, and the next three matches, but this time it was a groin injury that forced him off the field to his obvious frustration and the door was opened for Mingle's return after a two match suspension. With Mingle himself recovering from injury, indeed Maggs hadn't even considered the talented midfielder for selection until the player declared himself fit shortly before the kick-off, it was unsurprising that Horsham lost some of their early impetus but their progress wasn't helped by regular interruptions from Mr Bull whose frequent conversations with the Horsham bench and stewards had the supporters bemused.

Seuke had showed impeccable handling throughout the first half and he showed just why Maggs had allowed the displaced Alan Mansfield to join neighbours YMCA on Monday with a superb near post stop from Savage, 7 minutes from the break, after the pacy frontman had shown Andy Howard a clean pair of heels. Horsham finally managed to put the ball in to the Heybridge net on 41 minutes but Mingle's simple tap-in, from a good exchange between Farrell and Lewis Taylor, was ruled out for a close offside call. Burrell fired high and wide for the Swifts but it was the hosts who finished the half the stronger and the predatory Farrell almost conjured up something from nothing when he beat Morris-Sanders to Yinka Salaam's bouncing through pass and lobbed the ball just over the crossbar from a near impossible angle.

However, with the first half entering stoppage time, the deadlock was broken with another dazzling effort from Jacob Mingle's growing repertoire of stunning goals. Mingle began the attack with a raking ball out of defence that saw the 'keeper win this race with Farrell, heading the ball clear only for the loose ball to be picked up by Taylor on the far touchline.  As the ball was played in to the Heybridge penalty area it was picked up by Myall who found Mingle in space, some 25 yards from goal, and the substitute steadied himself before sending a spectacular drive past the diving Morris-Sanders to give his side the lead. There was still time for the Hornets to launch one final attack before the break but Farrell was unable to convert Taylor's pass and the sides turned around with just  Mingle's stunning goal dividing them.

H/T Horsham 1 Heybridge Swifts 0

Despite their one goal advantage, this wasn't one of Horsham's more convincing displays and Taylor, deployed on the right side of midfield, looked bereft of ideas, the pairing of Davies and Farrell up front had failed to bear fruit, and Horsham looked edgy. Lovegrove, like fellow 'home' debutant Gavin Bolger enjoyed a busy, if unspectacular game although one dangerous looking cross from the former was hastily cleared as Maggs' side looked to extend their lead in the opening moments of the second period.

But it was the visitors who struck next, dealing a harsh blow to Seuke who produced a superb save to prevent Burrell's long range shot from going in at the near post. From the resulting corner, the ball was played low to the edge of the box where Dave Wareham, uncontested, had time to tee up the shot and let fly with a searing volley that kept low and beat Seuke through a crowd of players to make it 1-1. Four minutes later, Heybridge edged in front when Mingle lost possession on the edge of the Swifts' penalty area and the ball was quickly moved on to Marks who released his strike partner Savage to race away and finish adroitly past the exposed Seuke for his 3rd goal in 4 days.

Maggs' instant response was to make a double substitution with Carney and Simon Austin replacing Lovegrove and Davies with the hosts now forced to chase the game. Myall's cross was just too far ahead of Taylor at the far post and Carney headed one of several decent crosses from Salaam wide as the long serving midfielder looked to provide a fresh impetus for his team-mates. Morris-Sanders punched well under pressure from Austin after Carney's attempted shot ricocheted high in to the air but Horsham received a let-off when Burrell jinked his way past skipper Tom Graves on the byeline only to overhit his cross with the unmarked Savage waiting eagerly in the centre of goal.

Morris-Sanders was quickly off his line to block Farrell's shot after the striker's neat turn had seen him latch on to Mingle's clever pass with 10 minutes remaining as the visitors worked tirelessly to protect their lead. Carney's attempted cross-shot was blocked before Horsham's best chance of the night failed by mere inches to produce the equalising goal. A good run and crossfield pass from Austin picked out Taylor at the far post and his driven, first-time shot flew across the face of goal and beyond the reach of the stretching Farrell.

With Statham's side understandably killing the game with delaying tactics at the death, Mr Bull signalled the end of the contest and the travelling supporters and players were left to celebrate a first ever victory at the Atspeed Stadium and the end of a successful few days. Horsham's fans left disconsolate, sharing Maggs' hopes that he can secure the services of a recognised goalscorer or risk their fine season petering out.

NEXT MATCH: v Hendon (h) Saturday 1st March ko 3.00pm