HORSHAM 3 HORSHAM YMCA 1

HORSHAM:
1.Alan Mansfield 2.Tom Graves 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott 9.Lee Farrell 10.Chamal Fenelon 11.Lee Carney Subs: Andy Howard, Matt Geard, Carl Rook, Yinka Salaam, Rob Frankland
Scorers: Westcott (31), Graves (49), Carney (75)

HORSHAM YMCA:
1.Chris May 2.Dean Carden 3.Alec Heaney 4.Ellis Hooper 5.Ross Woodburn 6.White 7.Dean Taylor 8.Joe Keehan 9.Richard Greenfield 10.Steve Davies 11.Andy Ottley Subs: Michael Death, Phil Fitzgerald, Matt Simpson, Kevin Joyce, Tom Rand
Scorers: Davies (15)

reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham’s two senior sides served up an entertaining game for the 229 supporters present, with the Hornets emerging 3-1 winners for the second year in a row.

John Suter’s team looked fresh and up for the challenge against their Premier Division opponents, taking a deserved lead on the quarter hour mark when Richard Greenfield was given plenty of time to pick out the dangerous Steve Davies who knocked a firm header past a surprised Alan Mansfield. Prior to that, Joe Keehan had threatened the Hornets defence with a mazy dribble into the box as early as the first minute, beating three players before putting his final touch inches wide of the upright. At the other end, Dean Carden got his boot to the ball to intercept an attempted pass by Chamal Fenelon that would have put Lee Carney in on goal and the corner conceded caused concern in the YM defence as Tom Graves' attempted header flashed past the far post.

Straight after the goal, a poor pass from the usually reliable Jacob Mingle caught Graves in two minds and, while he deliberated, Andy Ottley pounced on the loose ball to create a shooting chance for himself but hit it wide. Fenelon replied with a snorter of a shot that 'keeper Chris May could only parry with his defenders able to complete the clearance. Nigel Brake was in inspired form, regularly finding room on the left wing, and from one cross into the box Fenelon seemed to duck under the ball, it bouncing awkwardly in front of John Westcott whose downward header went wide of May’s post. Westcott was seeing more of the ball and good approach work between the two strikers saw Lee Farrell knock a pass to Westcott but his final delivery was too heavy and drifted out at the far post. Three minutes later, Westcott atoned for his mistake when he headed in an equalising goal after good build up play involving Mingle and Carney, the latter’s pinpoint cross making Westcott’s task that much easier. Lewis Taylor then fashioned a cross that Brake bravely put his head to, the wing back seeing his effort go just wide. YM were still finding plenty of space and Davies should have done better when Ottley put him in behind the home defence but his hurried effort went well wide of the near post.

Graves again found space in the YM box to send a powerful header just over the bar and YM winger Dean Taylor had to be replaced by ex-Hornet Michael Death in the 40th minute after receiving treatment following a strong, but fair, tackle from Brake that had left the youngster holding his leg. A fairly even first half came to an end with the scores level, the home team finishing the half stronger than they had started it.

H/T: Horsham 1 Horsham YMCA 1

The start of the second period saw the normal changes of personnel, the visitors introduced Phil Fitzgerald, Kevin Joyce and goalkeeper Tom Rand in place of Alec Heaney, Ellis Hooper and Chris May, while for Horsham skipper Eddie French and Lee Farrell made way for Andy Howard and the welcome sight of Carl Rook, making his first appearance of the Summer after suffering a close season injury.

Horsham raised their game from the start of the second half and Taylor hit a free kick on to the head of Brake but, as the ball landed at Fenelon’s feet, his effort was blocked as was the follow up from Mingle. Fortunes changed straight after, however, when an incisive three touch move involving Taylor, Carney and finally Graves who finished the move in style to put the home side into the lead within four minutes of the restart. Two minutes later a rare mistake by Mansfield almost gifted YM an equaliser. A pass back saw Davies pressure the 'keeper into making a hurried clearance which hit Howard and rebounded back into Davies' path but the striker could only look on in disbelief as Mansfield redeemed himself with a good save. Rook thought he had scored when he rose highest to a Carney free kick but Rand saved well. Westcott and Graves made way for Yinka Salaam and Matt Geard with just over half an hour left and Fenelon almost penetrated the YM defence with another long range effort that Rand saved. Matt Simpson was the next to be introduced in place of Keehan and, with his first touch, set up a long range shot from the ever dangerous Ottley, Mansfield saving the winger's attempt.

Carney’s well timed run almost caught the YM defence out as Howard’s beautifully flighted free kick found the midfielder lurking at the back post but, sadly for the Hornets, his header went wide with only Rand to beat. Carney was seeing more and more of the ball and his link up with Taylor opened up the defence once more but the former’s shot went wide of goal. YM carved out another half chance when Hemsley obstructed Davies on his way through but the direct free kick from Ottley hit the wall and was cleared. Westcott was re-introduced in place of the hard working Taylor with a quarter of the game remaining and he was to be part of a sublime move from the home side, started by Brake whose fifty yard pass from left to right wing found Westcott in space.  A pass to Salaam was quickly moved square to Mingle and his short pass into Carney’s path saw the midfielder hit the ball with such venom that it struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced back into the net for a stunning goal that his individual performance deserved, drawing applause from all who witnessed it - most of whom will undoubtedly be hoping that the talented midfielder enjoys an injury free campaign after last season's frustrations.

Kevin Joyce was severely spoken to after a crude and strong challenge on Rook that left the recovering Hornets striker limping away. With the game coming to an end, Geard’s cross was almost turned in by Fenelon and he had another chance moments later after good work by Brake and Rook that was saved, and the final action was from Ottley who hit an indirect free kick over the bar into the car park which signalled time from referee Tim Robinson’s whistle.


NEXT MATCH: v Fleet Town (a) Saturday 11th August ko 3.00pm