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HORSHAM U18s:
Dominic Burchell, George Magnus, Adam Hutchings, Tom May, Niall
O'Hagen, Danny Hutchings (Karl Threadgold), Mike Dale, Jay Brynin,
Tony Nwachukwu, Elliott Hawkes (Patrick O'Sullivan), Patrick Surlis.
Unused sub: Harry Pleece
Scorers: Dale,
Nwachukwu, O'Sulivan |
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Reporter: Richard Smith
Ian Dowie has offered very few positive things to football but he did
coin the phrase Bouncebackability and for that he must be thanked. The
word hasn’t made it’s way yet into the English Dictionary however it
has enabled me to feel no guilt for describing Horsham’s under 18 3-2
winning performance against their opponents Tooting and Mitcham as
full of gritability, stickability, determinationability and
characterability.
Tooting for their part must be praised for their football and overall
game and I suspect they feel slightly aggrieved that they didn’t get
anything from a game that their performance rightly deserved.
A crowd of 44 took their favourite positions to see Tooting kick off
towards the Cowshed and one wonders what in a few years time will be
positioned there instead of that famous end. A back garden full of
laughing children wearing Horsham shirts one hopes.
The first period of the game saw a scrappy affair with neither side
being able to get hold of the ball and play. Horsham for their part
simply couldn’t get going as passes went astray, runs weren’t being
made and the overall team performance seemed flat which was surprising
as recent results should have seen the team brimming with confidence.
Corners from both teams were earned and wasted as the ball either
never cleared the first defender or simply sailed too far over the
back post.
Tooting slowly got their game together driven on by the energetic
midfield style of Nick Ford who covered every inch in true energetic
midfielder style. The front two of Connor Clacnor and Dayo Jundio
began to make the runs their manager was after and their pace got them
into the heart of the Horsham defence on a frequent basis so it came
as no surprise when Tooting took their lead on 12 minutes. A smart
through ball played in Jundio and his shot from inside the area hit
the Horsham keeper Dominic Burchell but had enough pace on it to reach
the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Tooting went and bossed the remainder of the first half and further
efforts from Connor Clacnor, Billy Thompson and Jundio all threatened
to extend their lead. At the back Alomeen Amodu broke up all Horsham
attacks and his physical presence in the air nullified Horsham’s
efforts to get into the game. The only spark that was visible either
came from Tooting’s front two or from the rapidly darkening night sky,
which threatened to dump a level of rain that would have made Noah
nervous.
On 28 minutes a great run by Jundio saw him beat three Horsham players
and drive into the box but he failed to get his head up and his shot
away and the danger was averted but it was another warning that
Tooting were making positive in roads through the Horsham defence. It
maybe needed a switch around and Horsham’s George Magnus moved back
into his preferred position of central defence from right back.
Horsham’s blonde midfielder Daniel Hutchings was working as hard as
anybody to get the misfiring Horsham team going and his effort was
positively noted by the crowd. However it was Tooting who constantly
looked the more likely to add a next goal.
As the whistle blew for half time Tooting were in total control and
sitting on a deserved 1-0 lead, indeed with a bit more luck one goal
could have been two or indeed three.
Half time allowed the match reporter to have a long and very
interesting chat with an absolute West Ham legend. His legendary
status is more for his off the field input into the game however his
knowledge of grass roots football was excellent and a nicer bloke I
couldn’t wish to meet.
The second half kicked off and it was clear that Horsham needed to put
in a performance that would have made the comic strip hero Dan Dare,
born this day 58 years ago, proud.
At first the game continued in the same vein as the first half but, if
anything, Tooting looked a little less precise in their work and it
appeared that half time had come along at the wrong time for them.
Changes were made by Tooting to freshen things up with Jordan Mclaren
coming on for Daniel Wilson but it was Horsham who carved open the
first real chance of the half on 55 minutes. Pat Surlis headed an
Elliot Hawkes mishit shot wide from no more than 6 yards out and it
looked a bad and unfortunate miss especially as, two minutes later,
Clacnor had a decent chance from a shot that was well saved by
Burchell in the Horsham goal.
Both sides made further substitutions with Horsham’s Karl Threadgood
coming on for Hutchings who had run his course and these fresh legs
helped Horsham forge an equalizer on 66 minutes. A free kick was
played into the area and a simple nod back into the danger zone by
Tony Nwachukwu lead to Michael Dale heading home from inside the
six-yard box.
1-1 and Horsham right back in the game. The joy of the equalizer
however lasted just two minutes as Tooting themselves went 2-1 up from
a free kick out wide. As the ball flew into the area it was met by
Clacnor who smashed an unstoppable half volley into the back of the
Horsham net for another very good finish.
Horsham made their final change with Patrick O’Sullivan stepping up
from the Under16’s coming on up front for Elliot Hawkes.
On 71 minutes the crowd witnessed the fourth goal of the game and the
third in just 5 minutes as Horsham again pulled the game back level.
The referee pulled a Horsham attack back when there was a clear
advantage to be played and the moans in the crowd could be heard all
over Sussex. The groans soon turned to cheers though as the ensuing
free kick into the area was headed goal wards by Magnus. The Tooting
keeper, the wonderfully named Mr Jelley could only palm the ball out
but it fell to Nwachukwu who whacked the ball home from only 2 yards
out. As is typical of Tony he then proceeded to thrill those in the
crowd with his trademark celebration. Understated it isn’t! And what
the bench must think as on this occasion as he limped back the half
way line I don’t know.
2-2 and all to play for.
Tooting struggled to pick up their game and were visibly struggling as
Horsham began to mount attack after attack with chances falling to Tom
May from distance, a Pat Surlis shot that bobbled wide and noticeably
Nwachukwu who broke into the area at speed and with a bit more
composure should have scored. He didn’t and blazed high wide and over
the bar.
A draw based on the overall game would have been a very fair result
but there was one last twist in the proceedings.
On 87 minutes, the ball was in the back of the net and young
O’Sullivan was wheeling away toward the Horsham dug out for a proper
man hug. The goal was actually a good finish in a packed penalty box
and Patrick did well to turn and get his shot away.
That should have been that but credit to Tooting who found it in
themselves to chip a tidy chance wide on 89 minutes and in stoppage
time force a great tip over save by Burchell from a fine shot from
Tooting’s Jundio.
The whistle blew, the points were Horsham’s but credit must go to both
teams for a proper game of football.
For Horsham their good run continues – for Tooting a cup final awaits
on Thursday
Final score Horsham 3 Tooting and Mitcham 2.
NEXT MATCH: v Staines Town (a)
Thursday 17th April ko 7.45pm |
