AFC HORNCHURCH 1 HORSHAM 2

AFC HORNCHURCH:
1.Dale Brightly 2.Donny Barnard 3.Danny Grozier 4.John Purdie 5.Richard Goddard 6.Andy Tomlinson 7.Frankie Curley 8.Dean Green (Brothers) 9.Kris Lee 10.Harry Elmes (Richards) 11.Elliot Styles (Boateng) Subs: 12.Jim McFarlane 14.Jamie Richards 15.Des Boateng 16.Michael Brothers 17.Mark Janney
Scorers: Curley (66)

HORSHAM:
1.Paul Seuke 2.Yinka Salaam 3.Stuart Myall 4.Eddie French 5.Andy Howard 6.Jason Ward (Austin) 7.Tom Graves 8.Lewis Taylor 9.Lee Farrell (Davies) 10.Chamal Fenelon 11.Stefan Cox (Geard) Subs: 12.Kevin Hemsley 14.Matt Geard 15.Steve Davies 16.Simon Austin 17.Alan Mansfield
Scorers: Graves (18), Howard (29)

Reporter: Mark Wells
Photographs: John Lines

Horsham withstood a second half onslaught from the Urchins to move in to 4th place in the Ryman League Premier Division table courtesy of two first half goals from Tom Graves and Andy Howard. John Maggs' patched up side controlled the first half and were good value for their lead but the anticipated assault from the Essex club brought just the solitary strike from Frankie Curley after the break and, despite two strong penalty appeals in the closing stages, Hornchurch's recent record of losing every third league match continued, to the chagrin of their noisy home supporters.

The long standing fans among those who had made the journey up from West Sussex couldn't help but be impressed at the transformation that Hornchurch's Bridge Avenue ground had undergone in the 12 years or so since their last visit. True, the running track is still there of course, an unappealing yet mandatory blot on this otherwise  fine multi-purpose stadium, but the striking clubhouse, restaurant and club shop are a testament to the Urchins' brief couple of seasons of opulence that saw as many as a dozen full-time players on the books as back-to-back promotions earned them a place in the Conference South. This season sees Colin McBride's side striving to make a return to Conference football after storming to the Ryman Division One North title last season and they stood in 4th place at the start of this game, 3 points and 3 places above the Hornets.

The two sides had met as recently as 26 days ago, when the Hornets had proven victorious by 3 goals to 1, but the match was tainted with accusations of abuse towards Horsham's hearing impaired player Lee Farrell prompting tonight's matchday programme to feature a very outspoken diatribe from club secretary Jenny Cliff that did nothing to quell any ill-feeling that might have been carried over from that first meeting.

Horsham have suffered a well documented injury crisis in the 3 weeks since and Lee Carney, Nigel Brake, Gary Charman and Ian Payne were all forced out of this game as well as the suspended Jacob Mingle prompting Maggs to shuffle his pack. In came former Leyton winger Stefan Cox, signed on a month's loan from Lewes earlier in the day, while Yinka Salaam made a rare start at full-back. Tom Graves had recovered sufficiently from the knock that kept him out of the weekend win against Hastings and he lined up in front of the back four in which skipper Eddie French partnered Andy Howard in the centre with Chamal Fenelon back in the attack after missing the previous 2 matches for personal reasons. For their part, Hornchurch showed 5 changes to the side that lined up at the Atspeed last month with the unfortunate Shane Oakley out with a broken ankle and Simon Parker, one of Hornchurch's goalscoring heroes from Saturday's unlikely win against Carshalton, also absent.

It was the visitors who kicked off but the hosts who had the first effort on goal when Kris Lee's 2nd minute strike produced an early save from Paul Seuke. Seuke had an uncomfortable moment when Howard's misdirected header from Andy Tomlinson's free-kick put his goalkeeper in trouble but the ball was touched away from Lee at the far post before being cleared. Yet that was nothing compared to the discomfort caused to Curley, moments later, when Graves' high boot saw the Urchins number 7 led from the field with a bloodied nose to return later with a clean shirt and cotton wool protruding from one nostril.

A neat spin and turn of pace from Cox saw him leave Donny Barnard in his wake only for his run to be halted illegally by Elliott Styles' challenge and, from the resulting free-kick, Farrell sent a decent volley goalwards but straight in to goalkeeper Dale Brightly's arms as the match got off to a lively start. Styles tried his luck from distance but dragged his shot well wide of the target and Lewis Taylor was equally ineffective when shooting from 25 yards. Curley went close with a header but the majority of attacking moves from both sides were thwarted by some resolute defending by both sets of defenders until a piece of skill from Stuart Myall produced the game's first goal. Receiving a pass from Cox, the veteran full-back jinked his way past Styles and made his way to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal for Graves to get in ahead of Curley and knock the ball in to the net from close range.

The smile was quickly removed from Graves' face when he appeared to have won the ball cleanly from the marauding Dean Green only for referee Rook to disagree and administer the yellow card to the bemused midfielder. The free-kick, from Styles, flew low and wide of Seuke's left hand post. The Hornets extended their advantage on 29 minutes through another unlikely goalscorer. Trickery from Fenelon earned his side a corner off Richard Goddard that was swung deep towards the far post by Taylor where Myall, Green, Tomlinson and Howard stood in close attendance and it was the latter who swung a decisive boot to send the ball home via Tomlinson's chest to join Graves on 2 goals for the season and put the visitors 2 goals to the good.

Tomlinson's misery was compounded, 5 minutes later, when he saw yellow for a foul on Salaam as Horsham used every opportunity to slow the game down but only Mr Rook will explain how Barnard avoided a caution for a high challenge on Cox. No nonsense defending from the Hornets, a feature of their game from the start, was even more prominent as the back four leathered the ball out of danger rather than chance their usual passing game on the rutted, uneven surface. The tactics proved successful as Seuke's goal remained unbeaten until the break despite a late flurry from the hosts that saw first Lee denied by Howard, after Harry Elmes had nodded down John Purdie's cross, and then Lee drag his shot wide with Elmes and Tomlinson unable to apply the telling touch while, at the other end, a strong run from Taylor ended with his driven cross coming to rest on the top of Brightly's goal.

H/T AFC Hornchurch 0 Horsham 2

The second half began with the hosts making a change with Michael Brothers coming on for Green but it was a cagey opening with Horsham apparently content to protect their lead while the Urchins, although desperate for a foothold back in the game, knew that one mistake might produce a killer third for the visitors. However, the majority of play seemed confined to the Horsham half with the Hornets unable to retain possession on those occasions when their dogged defending had wrestled the ball away from their opponents. Neither Fenelon nor Farrell enjoyed much personal success up front and Jason Ward struggled to make an impact on the right flank. The diminutive Cox showed that, despite his youth and stature, he wasn't afraid to get stuck in and a robust challenge on Barnard saw the Lewes man carded although it appeared that the caution was more for the subsequent show of petulance in kicking the ball away than for the foul itself.

A corner, just before the hour mark, presented Hornchurch with their first meaningful effort on goal in the second period but Styles was unable to steer his header on target and the ball sailed harmlessly over the top. A half chance for Lee was scuffed wide and Brothers turned and smashed a 30 yarder into the sandpit behind the goal before Maggs made his first substitution of the night, Simon Austin replacing Ward...once the linesman had finally been alerted to the cries from the Horsham bench !!

Within 2 minutes of Austin's introduction, Styles drew an excellent save from Seuke. Brothers did well to get in a cross from the goal line and, when the ball was nodded down to Styles, the former Redbridge player let fly with a superb volley that was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Horsham's first choice 'keeper. Inevitably, though, the pressure finally told and Hornchurch reduced the deficit with 22 minutes remaining. Horsham survived the subsequent corner but when Tomlinson released Lee in acres of space down the right, he was able to pick out his man with ease, sliding the ball inside to Curley who clipped the ball first time in to the far corner of the net for a well crafted goal.

The Urchins had produced a sensational comeback to defeat Carshalton 3-2 at the weekend after trailing 2-0 with 5 minutes to go. Could they come up with the goods again ?

Before the game could recommence, McBride made a double substitution, sending on Jamie Richards and Des Boateng for Elmes and Styles to add renewed vigour to his side and it was the hosts who continued to make the running. Frequent relinquishing of possession by the Hornets kept up the pressure on their own goal and Austin was booked for a frustrated lunge at Boateng, the free-kick - fortunately for the visitors - failing to produce any nervy moments in the goalmouth.

Cox was withdrawn for Matt Geard for the final quarter of an hour having shown that, on a decent pitch, he might add something to Horsham's promotion quest for the remainder of his spell at the club. A mistake from Seuke almost let in Hornchurch for the equaliser when Richards picked out Lee at the far post but, with Seuke caught in no-man's land, the striker headed past the post. A decent counter attack from the visitors was wasted through a heavy pass from Taylor and Fenelon and Farrell's impatience often found them falling foul of the linesman's flag. A head injury to Howard gave Horsham chance to relieve the pressure momentarily but, suddenly, all the minor incidents seemed to go against them and presenting their hosts with a number of free-kicks around the edge of the box.

However, Horsham were indebted to Mr Rook for denying Hornchurch two late penalty shouts. A long throw from Brothers was helped on at the near post, where it hit French on the chest amid loud appeals from the players and fans who were sure the ball had hit the Horsham skipper's outstretched arms. Incredibly, as the ball was returned in to the area, another appeal went up after the ball appeared to hit Austin on the hand. Farrell talked himself in to a booking after contesting a free-kick decision before being replaced by Steve Davies for what now amounted to injury time and it was he who had the final chance of the match when, following some frantic defending, Horsham broke upfield and Geard's neat chip put Davies in to send a in a shot that the diving Brightly did well to turn away at full stretch before Mr Rook's whistle signalled the end of the contest.

NEXT MATCH: v Southwick (a) Wednesday 20th February ko 7.45pm