HORSHAM 1 MAIDSTONE UNITED 2

HORSHAM:
1.Paul Seuke 2.Yinka Salaam 3.Stuart Myall 4.Tom Graves 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lee Carney 7.Jacob Mingle 8.Lewis Taylor 9.Simon Austin (Davies) 10.Lee Farrell 11.Nigel Brake Subs: 12.Eddie French 14.Andy Howard 15.Steve Davies 16.Ian Payne 17.Alan Mansfield
Scorer: Brake (46)

MAIDSTONE UNITED:
1.Steve Northwood 2.Danny Walder 3.Craig Roser 4.Ben Lewis 5.Errison Ahwan 6.Chris Smalling 7.Rob Owen 8.Aaron Lacy (Peacock) 9.Mo Takalobighashi 10.Lynden Rowland (Tiesse, Gaisie) 11.Ray Freeman. Subs: 12.Shearer 14.Bryan Glover 15.Steffan Gaisie 16.Alex Tiesse 17.James Peacock
Scorer: Takalobighashi (59, 81)

reporter: Mark Wells

John Maggs hopes to have added a new striker to the squad for the Boxing Day trip to Tonbridge Angels after watching his side slip to their fourth defeat in a row against Maidstone United. The Hornets' worst run of results since December 2003 saw them lose further ground in the hunt for a promotion place, slipping 6 places to 17th, and with tough games coming up against Tonbridge Angels and Margate, Maggs knows he has to work fast to try arrest an alarming slide that leaves them just two points outside the relegation places.

Maggs restored Paul Seuke to the side after sitting out Tuesday's League Cup tie with Walton Casuals, Alan Mansfield stepping down to the bench, and the midweek defensive pairing of Eddie French and Andy Howard were also rested in preference of Kevin Hemsley and Tom Graves. Yinka Salaam made his home league debut at right-back but illness continued to keep Gary Charman out of the side.

On a pitch that was firm, but sticky, Salaam almost got the game off to a nightmare start when his underhit backpass had Seuke racing from his line to hack clear, with Takalobighashi in close attendance. Jacob Mingle required treatment after colliding with Ben Lewis and Takalobighashi also had Seuke sprawling in the mud when his low shot brought a decent save from the Hornets' 'keeper at the foot of the post. At the other end, Salaam's throw-in was cleared only as far as Lewis Taylor, lurking on the edge of the Stones' penalty area, but his sliced volley failed to test Steve Northwood in goal.

Horsham were making most of the early running and were unlucky when a corner from Taylor found Mingle whose cross was deflected high to the far post by Rob Owen and Hemsley's header was diverted behind the goal off of Walder's shins. A fine break down the right saw Mingle's measured pass taken in his stride by Taylor but Austin was inches away from converting his low, driven cross and they made further inroads down the same flank, moments later, when Taylor skipped past Craig Roser's challenge only to be frustrated as Errison Ahwan hoofed the ball away from the goal-line with Austin looking set to score against his old club. As the loose ball dropped on the edge of the box, Mingle's tremendous volley shaved the crossbar but he was woefully off target when trying to thread the ball through for the overlapping Nigel Brake in their next attack.

The game was barely 20 minutes old when the visitors were forced in to their first substitution, Lynden Rowland limping off after failing to shake off an innocuous injury picked up in the opening exchanges and being replaced by Alex Tiesse. Horsham were now the dominant force, without being able to find the breakthrough, and Mingle almost sent Lee Farrell through on goal before steering a shot straight into Northwood's arms after more good work by Taylor. A pot shot from Brake flew over the top before Maidstone fashioned only their second shot on target when Tiesse got in behind the home defence and teed the ball up for Ray Freeman whose shot lacked the power to seriously trouble Seuke.

Tom Graves whistled a shot past the post after being picked up unmarked from a free-kick but, for all their possession, the Hornets couldn't find a way through the hard working defence and, with Farrell struggling to keep his footing on the slippery surface, moves were regularly breaking down on the edge of the penalty area to the frustration of the home fans. Salaam was enjoying a steady match on the right and he came to his side's aid, minutes before the interval, blocking an effort from Tiesse after the substitute broke through Graves' challenge. Takalobighashi's overhead kick was comfortably taken by Seuke but it was the home side who continued to enjoy the majority of the possession and would consider themselves unfortunate to still be on level terms at the break.

H/T Horsham 0 Maidstone United 0

It took Horsham less than a minute of the second period to get their noses in front when Brake cut in from the left to pick out Mingle and, when the midfielder skipped past his marker, Brake was on hand to finish, curling a fine shot in to the bottom corner of the net. A great interception by Chris Smalling prevented Farrell's cross from reaching the danger zone as Horsham, boosted by the goal, continued to take the game to their opponents. A moment of brilliance from Taylor and Carney should have produced a second goal when Taylor cut in and drifted along the edge of the box and a neat exchange of passes with Carney left the midfielder with a clear sight of goal but, sadly for the Hornets, the ball fell to his weaker left foot and was lashed wide leaving the midfielder with his shirt held over his head in disgust.

The miss was to prove costly as, within a minute, Maidstone hit their hosts with a shock equaliser. Outplayed for much of the game, they forced a throw-in, level with the penalty area, and when Tiesse shot through a crowd of players Seuke could only push the ball out as far as Takalobighashi who reacted sharply to lash the ball in to the back of the net from barely a couple of yards out.

Horsham's confidence, so fragile after three defeats on the spin, seemed affected by the goal and Tiesse easily escaped the attentions of three home players before twisting and firing a shot straight at Seuke as the Stones threatened an unlikely second goal. Now it was the Maidstone midfield who seemed to be seeing more of the ball but neither side looked convincing as the game entered a scrappy spell. Maggs sent on Steve Davies for Austin with a quarter of an hour remaining but he had little chance to get in to the game when Maidstone grabbed what proved to be the winner. A long throw from the left was flicked on and Owen nipped in in front of Seuke to turn the ball back intelligently towards the penalty spot where Takalobighashi gleefully shot home in to the unguarded goal.

Horsham had just 9 minutes in which to salvage something from a game that they had looked the likely winners just half an hour earlier and, to their credit, they battled gamely and were denied a certain goal by a terrific save from Northwood when Mingle's cross was hit first time by Farrell but the Stones' goalkeeper showed great reactions to turn the ball on to the post. Next it was Myall's turn to be denied when Graves returned Brake's deep cross and the experienced full-back flung himself headlong to meet the ball but Northwood was well positioned to make the save. It was a frantic finale from the hosts and good approach play saw Davies nod down to Brake whose pass inside was picked up by Myall to float a curling effort agonisingly wide of the target but, when Carney hit a shot wide from 15 yards, the players and supporters knew that was their last chance and their FA Cup hangover had extended itself in to a 4th game.

NEXT MATCH: v Tonbridge Angels (A) Wednesday 26th December ko 3.00pm