MAIDSTONE UNITED 0 HORSHAM 2

MAIDSTONE UNITED:
1.Pat Mullin 2.Nathan Paul 3.Ray Freeman (Hegley) 4.Ben Lewis 5.Mario McNish 6.Lee Shearer 7.Sam Tydeman 8.Errison Ahwan 9.Craig Wilkins(Tiesse)  10.Mo Takaloo 11.Simon Austin (Martin) Subs: 12.Alex Tiesse 14.Aaron Lacy 15.Nick Hegley 16.Andy Martin 17.Michal Czanner
Scorers: -

HORSHAM:
1.Alan Mansfield 2.Tom Graves 3.Nigel Brake 4.Andy Howard 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.Gary Charman 9.Lee Farrell 10.Carl Rook (Westcott) 11.Lee Carney Subs: 12.Eddie French 14.John Westcott 15.Yinka Salaam 16.Dean Wright 17.Rob Frankland
Scorers: Farrell (59,78)

reporter: Mark Wells
photographs by John Lines

Horsham boss John Maggs was sent to the stands after clashing with Stones manager Lloyd Hume but the Hornets celebrated an opening day victory for only the second time in seven years thanks to two clinical goals from Lee Farrell. The former Lewes striker struck twice in 19 second half minutes to show just why his new manager had pursued him so relentlessly throughout the summer and gave the perfect response to Hume who had goaded the GB Deaf player about his disability earlier in the game. Hume's disgraceful actions infuriated the Hornets boss who angrily confronted his counterpart at the half-time whistle, an uncharacteristic response by Maggs who was dismissed  by referee Mr Smith for the first time in his career. In truth, the controversial incident was the biggest talking point during the interval after a fairly sterile first half had provided little in the way of excitement with neither goalkeeper being really tested.

For the 11th consecutive year, the Hornets took to the road for the season's opener and few who made the trip down the M20 would argue that they faced a tough examination against last season's Division One champions. Maidstone, members of the Football League just 15 years ago, have enjoyed back-to-back promotions and are tipped by many to do well again this season having strengthened their squad with players such as Andy Martin, who has Championship experience with Crystal Palace, and former player Craig Wilkins whose career had since taken him to Tonbridge Angels, Gravesend & Northfleet and Dover Athletic. Horsham, without the services of new recruit Chamal Fenelon through suspension, were forced to start the match with last season's leading scorer Carl Rook partnering Farrell in attack despite the former having missed much of the pre-season preparations through injury while Carney's return to full fitness meant that John Westcott was relegated to the subs' bench.

The hosts kicked off on a surprisingly poor pitch that displayed the odd bare patch while the long grass and firm conditions gave hint that both sides' natural passing game might have to be compromised in the battle for maximum points. The visitors, sporting their new pale blue away colours, had an early chance when Farrell combined with Lewis Taylor, only for home 'keeper Pat Mullin to intercept the return pass, but it was the Stones who looked the more positive in the early stages and skipper Kevin Hemsley did well to block a shot from Mo Takaloo. A mistake by Mansfield almost gifted the hosts the opening goal after just 9 minutes when his poor punch was returned into the danger zone by Nathan Paul but Errison Ahwan inexplicably headed over from close range. The Horsham goal was under threat again, 5 minutes later, when casual defending presented Takaloo with another shooting opportunity but Tom Graves was on hand to block before the Stones forward pulled the loose ball harmlessly across the face of goal. The Hornets, though hard working, lacked creativity  but briefly showed their capabilities with a fine flowing move involving Taylor, Carney and Farrell that turned defence into attack in a matter of seconds only for Farrell to have strayed fractionally beyond the last defender and the linesman's flag cut short his advance on goal. Gary Charman, whose defence duties were called upon more than his undoubted attacking qualities, showed good awareness to avert the danger when Ahwan's neat pass almost put Takaloo away and the striker then toe-ended Paul's cross past the near post as the home side continued to press. Such was the pattern of the game that it was half an hour before either of Horsham's full-backs found themselves in a position from which to send in a cross, Brake disappointingly sending his delivery high over the crossbar, but they gradually began to impose themselves on their opponents and a sustained passing move saw Graves drill a pass into the penalty area with which Rook was only inches away from connecting. It was a similar outcome, 5 minutes before the interval, when Brake found his range and sent in a trademark cross that was just too far ahead of Charman at the far post. Taylor should have given his side the perfect ending to the half when he skied an effort on goal from a move reminiscent of that which gave Horsham the lead in last year's Sussex Senior Cup Final and, with just seconds of the half remaining, Mullin denied Taylor with his feet after a neat pass from Farrell.

H/T: Maidstone United 0 Horsham 0

Horsham re-entered the fray after the break with their manager banished to the stands and their striker absent after Rook's persistent injury had, once more, taken its toll and Carney pushed forward with Westcott taking up his usual position on the right. Brake picked up Horsham's first caution of the season following an altercation with the linesman but Mario McNish almost got his name in Mr Smith's notebook for the right reason when he capitalised on loose play from Taylor only to send a shot narrowly wide of the target. Graves stabbed a half chance wide from Carney's throw before Ben Lewis was afforded too much room in the midfield, strode purposefully forward and sent in a 25 yard shot that gave Mansfield an uncomfortable moment before clearing the crossbar by a couple of feet. The Horsham 'keeper was alert to the danger when a poor pass from Charman upfield was the catalyst for a brisk counter-attack but he was quickly off his line to hack the ball into the neighbouring goods yard with both Wilkins and Takaloo looking menacing. Inevitably perhaps, given the conditions, it was a defensive mistake that enabled Horsham to take the lead when a probing ball towards the edge of the penalty area from the hitherto subdued Jacob Mingle was headed in to the air by Ray Freeman and Farrell showed commendable composure, and no little skill, to lob the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and in to the net for a fine goal. Maidstone almost found an immediate reply when Mansfield's poor touch left him stranded in no-man's land but no home player was able to convert the loose ball and the chance was lost. A further opportunity was spurned, shortly after, when a free-kick went beyond Mansfield but Takaloo couldn't direct his header from a tight angle. Martin replaced Simon Austin with a third of the match remaining and, moments later, Wilkins brought a fine save from Mansfield after escaping the attentions of the Horsham defence. Farrell received a yellow card for squaring up to McNish, the Stones man perhaps fortunate to escape similar punishment, but Horsham's goalscorer almost exacted revenge when he broke into the penalty area and teed up Taylor perfectly only for the energetic midfielder to suffer a repeat of his earlier misfortune, putting the ball high over the top when the second goal looked a certainty. Hume made a double substitution on 75 minutes, withdrawing Freeman and Wilkins and replacing them with Hegley and Tiesse, but it was Horsham, through Farrell, who continued to look dangerous and when Hemsley's free-kick was nodded on by Charman, the pacy frontman hit a snapshot that was saved by Mullin at the second attempt. However, the home custodian could do nothing to prevent Farrell from doubling the visitors' lead a minute later when he raced on to Carney's astute pass to slam a fierce left foot drive into the back of the net before mockingly saluting the Stones bench as he returned triumphantly towards the halfway line. The hosts, facing an opening day defeat for only the second time since dropping out of the Football League, threw everything at the Horsham defence and Hegley was at the heart of some of their best moments as they frantically looked for the goal that would set up a grandstand finale for the 500+ crowd. They almost got one, too, when the Hornets defence failed to clear a bobbling ball and Tiesse hit a rasping drive that Mansfield somehow got his fingertips to to tip the ball onto the crossbar before Taylor completed the clearance. Hegley was played in on the left flank and delivered a good cross to Martin but his shot was too high and the ball found its way into Mansfield's net, two minutes from time, but the goal was chalked off for a clear handball. Sam Tydeman sliced a speculative shot wide from long range, and a good move from the Stones saw a cross evade everyone in the box and drift out for a goal kick, before Mr Smith brought proceedings to a close and Horsham were left to celebrate an impressive victory.

More match photos can be found here

NEXT MATCH: v Folkestone Invicta (h) Tuesday 21st August ko 7.45pm