PAGHAM 1 HORSHAM 2

PAGHAM:
1.Wes Hallett  2.Chris Heller 3.Lee Bradshaw 4.Billy Chatfield 5.Sean Towers 6.Brett Forden 7.Andy Cox 8.Tom Poole 9.Rob Wimble 10.Michael Frangou 11.Ashley Hunter Subs: 12.Aaron Knight 14.Lewis Haga-Hammond 15.Luke Cooper 16.Dan Cox
Scorers: Frangou (10)

HORSHAM:
1.Rob Frankland 2.Andy Howard 3.Stuart Myall 4.Eddie French 5.Tom Graves 6.Matt Geard 7.Mark Hawthorne 8.Danny Davis 9.Lee Farrell 10.Simon Austin 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Yinka Salaam 14.Ian Payne 15.Ben Bissett 16.Dean Lovegrove
Scorers: French (15), Austin (47)

reporter: Mark Wells
photographs: John Lines

Horsham overcame spirited opposition to set up a cup final finale for their aged Queen Street ground after coming from behind to win 2-1 at a blustery Nyetimber Lane. On a bitterly cold night where a surprisingly firm pitch and a biting, swirling wind made conditions difficult for both sides, it was Horsham who went through to their 5th Brighton Charity Cup Final in 6 seasons thanks to a goal in each half from Eddie French and Simon Austin. The Hornets' skipper found the net for the second successive game to cancel out Michael Frangou's 10th minute opener for the hosts and both teams spurned opportunities to add to the scoreline before Austin pounced 2 minutes after the break to claim the decisive goal and set up a showdown with East Preston in a repeat of the 2003 and 2004 finals.

With his side's promotion chances now an unrealistic, if mathematical, possibility boss John Maggs was determined that his players should end the season with the chance of silverware and he took his strongest available squad down to this small outpost on the fringes of Bognor Regis albeit without Lewis Taylor, Jacob Mingle, Kevin Hemsley, Dwain Clark, Alan Mansfield and, initially, Yinka Salaam whose navigational skills had deserted him, sending him heading off towards Brighton as the 7.45 kick-off approached. With U18s goalkeeper Tom Baxter on holiday, and Mansfield and Paul Seuke both injured, it meant a first appearance in more than 2 seasons for Rob Frankland while, in midfield, there was a rare outing for Mark Hawthorne who lined up alongside Matt Geard and Danny Davis.

Pagham went into this game on the back of 4 successive victories that had lifted them up to the mid-table safety of the County League Division One but it was their more senior opponents who had the first sight of goal when a sweeping move saw Austin release Davis down the right and, when Billy Chatfield could only head the cross up in to the air, Austin sent a measured volley over the crossbar.

The Lions took the lead when Geard was caught offside and, from the resulting free-kick, Rob Wimble flicked on for Frangou to steal in behind French and steer the ball over the helpless Frankland to register the first goal conceded by Maggs' side in this season's competition, with just 10 minutes played. A misplaced header from Tom Graves almost gifted the home side a second goal when Wimble collected the loose clearance and sent in a 20 yard volley that dipped narrowly wide of the upright but they should have doubled their lead, shortly after, when Chris Heller swung over a cross that found Andy Cox unmarked at the far post but, to the relief of the travelling supporters, the midfielder blazed woefully wide from 8 yards. A goal then might have produced a different outcome to this match, given the Hornets' fragile confidence after some recent heavy defeats, and Hawthorne's frustration was soon in evidence when he was lectured by referee James Slaney after clashing with Tom Poole.

It was left to French to calm the visitors' nerves when he arrived unmarked to head home Geard's 15th minute corner and parity was restored. The skipper was also instrumental in Horsham's next attack, forcing an unlikely corner and then flicking on Stuart Myall's precise delivery towards the back post where Austin was caught in two minds whether to shoot or pass. He opted for the latter and the ball rolled harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.

Lee Farrell outmuscled, and then outpaced, Chatfield and took the ball round advancing 'keeper Wes Hallett only to be brought back by the referee's whistle, having been adjudged to have fouled his marker. A tremendous crossfield pass from Gary Charman picked out Davis on the right flank and the former Worthing man did brilliantly to beat 2 men and cross to the far post but Charman's header lacked accuracy and looped over the crossbar.

Farrell then turned Chatfield to send in a speculative lob over the top before Hallett produced a fine double save to prevent Horsham from taking the lead. Another Myall corner was cleared only as far as Charman, on his own on the edge of the 'D', and he fired in a low volley that the Lions' 'keeper did well to get down to. As Graves contested the loose ball, Austin pounced to side foot an effort towards the bottom corner of the net only for Hallett to show great reactions once more to smother the shot and, with no further goalmouth incident in the minutes that followed, the sides turned around all square.

H/T Pagham 1 Horsham 1

With the advantage of the increasingly forceful wind at their backs, it took the visitors just 2 minutes to edge in front. French broke up a Pagham attack and Horsham swiftly went on the offensive, producing the best passing move of the night with Davis, Farrell, Geard and Hawthorne all involved and, when the latter brought the overlapping Andy Howard in to play, the defender delivered a perfect cross for Austin to control and shoot, giving Hallett no chance in goal and raising a huge cheer from the frozen travelling contingent now huddled together in the comparative warmth of the covered stand.

From that moment on, Horsham were rarely troubled by the County Leaguers who found the punishing conditions and Horsham's defence tricky opponents in equal measure. Farrell shot wide on 50 minutes before Charman was withdrawn in favour of Dean Lovegrove, the long serving winger typifying Horsham's attitude to the game, showing commendable appetite on a harsh night more typical of mid-Winter than the impending Summer.

Another fine Horsham move saw Davis release Howard inside the penalty area but Hallett stood firm to deny the visitors once more. Farrell collected his seemingly obligatory caution after tangling with Poole off the ball and was replaced, shortly after, by Ben Bissett for only the youngster's 2nd first team appearance. More pressure on the Lions goal brought Horsham a succession of corners, the 3rd of which saw French head narrowly over and Austin was also off target, volleying Geard's free-kick over the top. A looping cross from Davis clipped the top of the goal but, despite enjoying the bulk of the possession, Horsham almost paid the price for their failure to add a 3rd goal when Frankland had to push away a far post header from Wimble.

Salaam, by now safely arrived in the right part of West Sussex, took the place of Hawthorne with 15 minutes remaining but it was a replacement of a different kind that amused the spectators when Mr Slaney rejected 5 different balls after declaring the matchball too soft. As each ball was despatched in to the dug-outs, so another was instantaneously returned, rather like a game of pat-a-cake between referee and manager. Finally, a perfectly spherical orb was found and the game was allowed to recommence.

There was, however, little for either set of supporters to enthuse over during the closing stages of the game although Myall went close when, egged on by the Horsham faithful, he took range from a 30 yard free-kick but the experienced full-back was unable to add to the goal he scored at Shoreham in the previous round as the ball sailed just over the frame of the goal with Hallett a disinterested bystander.

NEXT MATCH: v Billericay Town (h) Saturday 19th April ko 3.00pm