HORSHAM 5 BOGNOR REGIS TOWN COLTS YOUTH 1

HORSHAM U16s:
Dominic Burchell, Joseph Giacomelli, James Cook, Anthony Dumbrill, Sam Lee, Matthew Rance, Marcus Southon, Jordan Ruff, Patrick O'Sullivan, Darren James, Alexander Green, Adam Hutchings, Adam Goddard, George Magnus
Scorers: O'Sullivan (3), Cook, Green

Horsham Youth Under 16s hosted the first of three potentially decisive games against Bognor Youth at the Holbrook on Sunday. With only one point separating these two teams at the end of last season, and a Challenge Cup Final between the two to look forward to later in the season, it was evident on the day that the Hornets wanted to show what they could do.

Despite several early chances, from which the hosts could have taken a three goal lead into the half time break, it wasn’t until stoppage time at the end of the half that Horsham were able to convert possession and chances into a goal. Marcus Southon stepped up to float a delightful corner perfectly towards the penalty spot where it was met in mid flight and headed home from a towering header from Patrick O’Sullivan for his first of three on the day.

A minute into the second half, however, it could have all changed when the Hornets were caught unawares resulting in a rather unfortunate own goal. But this proved to be a false dawn for the visitors and the Hornets soon stamped their superiority back on the game with O’Sullivan's second just five minutes later. By this time, Horsham were rampant and Bognor just couldn’t cope as the Hornets were proving superior in every department and a mistake by the Bognor keeper was seized upon by an opportunist O’Sullivan who duly completed his hat-trick.

With five minutes remaining, substitute James Cook, who was returning from a long term injury, made it four for the Hornets when he drilled home a low long range shot from the edge of the penalty area. The Hornets still weren’t finished and when Anthony Dumbrill crossed to Alexander Green, he completed the scoring with consummate ease, providing a finishing score line that emphasised the Hornets' dominance of the game