HORSHAM 2 RUSTINGTON 0

HORSHAM:
1.Paul Seuke 2.Yinka Salaam 3.Stuart Myall 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley (Rook)  6.Lee Carney (Mingle) 7.Lewis Taylor 8.John Westcott 9.Lee Farrell 10.Chamal Fenelon (Austin) 11.Nigel Brake Subs: 12.Jacob Mingle 14.Tom Graves 15.Carl Rook 16.Simon Austin 17.Alan Mansfield
Scorers: Fenelon (40), Hemsley (55)

RUSTINGTON:
1.Andrew McCarthy 2.Sean Duffy 3.Russell Tomlinson 4.Neal Brett 5.Richie Hellen 6.Gavin Hammond 7.Ryan Morten 8.Joe Lewis Cumber 9.Andy Smart (Cox) 10.James Butt (Withers) 11.Jamie Bashford Subs: 12.James Askew 14.Terry Withers 15.Craig Cox 16.Chris Couzens 17.Lee Gibbs

reporter: Mark Wells
photographs by: John Lines

Chamal Fenelon made it two goals in four days for the Hornets as they comfortably saw off the challenge of visiting Rustington to progress through to the 3rd round of the Sussex Senior Cup for the 3rd successive year. Kevin Hemsley headed home his first goal in exactly ten months but a much changed Horsham side rarely got out of second gear in a laboured display that was sloppy at times but scarcely in danger against their honest and hardworking opponents.

With the big FA Cup tie just four days away, boss John Maggs chose to rest regular strikers Carl Rook and Simon Austin to give Fenelon and Lee Farrell a first run out together while Jacob Mingle, Alan Mansfield and Tom Graves also dropped to the bench. There was a debut for goalkeeper Paul Seuke, a recent signing from AFC Wimbledon, and a first Horsham start for Yinka Salaam while the absence of Gary Charman enabled Nigel Brake to assume the left wing position with Stuart Myall filling in behind him at full-back. For Rustington, currently sat in 2nd place in the Sussex County Division Two table, leading scorer Chris Couzens failed a late fitness test and could only make the bench .

The visitors kicked off the match resplendent in their all pink kit, worn to raise awareness of the work of Cancer Research UK, although it was goalkeeper Andrew McCarthy's Day-Glo yellow strip that was to provoke as much comment from home supporters, one of which likened him to a budgerigar ! The fashion parade was the highlight of an uneventful opening passage of play although Rustington did have the first shot on target when James Butt brought an uncomfortable save out of Seuke in the 8th minute. Fenelon ought to have opened the scoring for the Hornets less than two minutes later but he headed John Westcott's inviting cross over the top from eight yards and it was the same player, and same result, shortly after when a good turn and shot saw the ball clear the fence at the car park end of the ground. A mistake by Brake presented Joe Lewis Cumber with a shooting opportunity that was easily fielded by Seuke and, at the other end, a surging run from Salaam released Farrell whose stinging drive took a deflection as it flew across the face of goal.

Horsham looked hesitant, nervous even, perhaps with one eye on the trip to Chippenham and they struggled to find any real fluency to their game, too often preferring to pass the ball around at the back and inviting the visitors to chase the ball than looking for an incisive pass. There was a slight scare for Maggs when Salaam came off worse after colliding with Seuke as the former Dulwich stopper punched clear a cross but the young defender was able to continue after treatment. The home side enjoyed the bulk of the first half possession but were unable to test McCarthy. Carney's shot through a crowded penalty area was deflected behind and Lewis Taylor sliced an effort wide from close range before Fenelon finally made the Rustington 'keeper work, McCarthy getting down well to the striker's low drive on 38 minutes. Fenelon it was who broke the deadlock, five minutes from the break, when Lee Carney's pass sought out Brake on the left touchline. The pacy winger eased past Sean Duffy and, when his cross was only partially cleared by Butt, Fenelon was able to send the ball into the back of the net via a deflection off of Jamie Bashford that sent it looping over the goalkeeper. Farrell might have doubled the lead but his finish was weak from another Carney pass and Fenelon ended the half with a good turn and shot that was too high.

H/T Horsham 1 Rustington 0

Fenelon's shoot on sight policy might have frustrated his supporters and team mates at times but he showed his power and accuracy just five minutes after the break when he smashed in a free-kick that McCarthy could only parry away to safety. Rustington's Sean Duffy wasted a golden chance to equalise when the visitors' best move of the night saw him take advantage of a fortuitous ricochet to turn away from Stuart Myall but he could only find the side netting with his shot and, three minutes later, Horsham scored their second of the night when Westcott's corner was met by the head of Eddie French whose near post flick was headed home at the back stick by his defensive partner Hemsley. Salaam then hit a powerful left foot shot wide after being picked out by Carney's quick throw and Taylor ended a good spell of possession from the home side by sending his effort past the same post.

Horsham, despite having plenty of the ball, looked sluggish and Maggs looked to liven things up when he withdrew Carney and Hemsley for Rook and Mingle and Rook was quickly into his stride, exchanging passes with Taylor only for the midfielder to run the ball out of play from a promising position. Rustington boss Gareth Davies sent on Terry Withers for Butt and the introduction of Craig Cox was met with cheers from the travelling faithful until they realised that it meant the withdrawal of striker Smart, the away fans making their feelings known that they would have preferred to have seen a more attacking stance taken up by their manager. Fenelon was replaced by Austin after apparently picking up a thigh injury but Horsham were continuing to go through the motions, making for a disappointing spectacle for most of the crowd of 283 - many of whom were undoubtedly tempted away from the live Champions League coverage thanks to the reduced admission prices.

Another good touch by Rook saw Westcott cut inside but his shot lacked the venom to trouble the goalkeeper, as did Duffy's effort at the other end after the County Leaguers threatened to pull a goal back. A misunderstanding at the back almost saw skipper Russell Tomlinson put through his own goal with only a frantic clearance sparing the number three's blushes and, after a dreadful miss by Rook, McCarthy pulled off a fine tip over from Westcott as the match tailed off in keeping with much of the previous 85 minutes.

NEXT MATCH: v Chippenham Town (a) Saturday 27th October ko 3.00pm