Carshalton Athletic 1 HORSHAM 5
Colston Avenue, Carshalton
Attendance: 354
Saturday 25th August 2008
Ryman League Premier Division
Referee: Mr N.A.Lugg

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC

HORSHAM

1.Phil Wilson
2.Simon Cooper
3.Dean Carpenter
4.Lewis Gonsalves
5.Matt York
6.Junior Kadi (Evans,76)
7.Liam Collins (Graves,76)
8.Paul Honey
9.Barry Stevens
10.Richard Jolly
11.Dwayne Clark
Subs:
12.James Evans
14.David Graves
15.Danny Elgar
16.Antonio Simeone
17.Stuart Searle

Goalscorers:
Carpenter (35)

1.Paul Seuke
2.Jack Page
3.Russell Eldridge
4.Andy Howard
5.Sam Page
6.Lee Carney
7.Lee Carey
8.Gary Charman
9.Mark Knee
10.Liam Baitup (Jeremiah,85)
11.Alex Haddow
Subs:
12.Sam Jeremiah
14.Jacob Mingle
15.Ian Payne
16.Shane Graham
17.Rob Frankland

Goalscorers:
Charman (1, 43)
Baitup (48)
Eldridge (69)
Knee (83)   

Reporter: Mark Wells
Photographs: John Lines
Goal highlights: Click  here

Horsham made their best start to a league season in seventeen years with this spectacular victory at Colston Avenue that extended their winning start to four games and ended their opponents' own perfect record in the process.

The seeds of this latest success were laid as early as the first minute when Lee Carey's free-kick eluded everyone to end up in the back of the Robins' net and, although the hosts grabbed a deserved equaliser through Dean Carpenter, the Hornets scored twice more, either side of half-time, to put themselves in the driving seat. Carshalton battled gamely to get a foothold back in the match but their resistance was finally destroyed when Russell Eldridge scored the best goal of the game and Mark Knee punished a defensive error to record Horsham's best ever win against their Surrey opponents and their highest since the Boxing Day triumph at Tonbridge Angels.

Just three clubs possessed a 100% record at the start of this fourth round of matches, with only Ashford Town's superior goal difference keeping Horsham and Carshalton off the top of the table, but the Hornets' hopes of continuing their fine start were unbalanced before the game when a dead leg ruled out leading scorer Evan Archibald to give Knee his first start of the season while St Francis Rangers' dual registered striker Sam Jeremiah was drafted in to the squad to provide attacking cover. Carshalton, fresh from an excellent 5-1 win at Harrow Borough at the weekend, included former Hornet Dwayne Clark in their starting line-up alongside Richard Jolly and Junior Kadi, both of whom had been the subject of interest from John Maggs in recent months.

Horsham got off to the best possible start when a first minute free-kick was clipped in from the left by Carey and ended up in the back of the net with the midfielder being credited with the goal, despite Gary Charman appearing to have got the final touch. If the home side were rocked by the goal, they certainly didn't show it as they attacked Paul Seuke's goal with conviction and Andy Howard had to nick the ball off the toes of Jolly to prevent the striker from adding to Saturday's four goal haul at Harrow. Barry Stevens fired over, after winning the race with Seuke to reach Paul Honey's pass, and Liam Collins failed to provide the finish to match the skill with which he set himself up a shooting chance as the Robins began to dominate.

Clarke was wasteful after cutting inside and firing a right-footed shot high over the goal as did Kadi, after being set up by Jolly, and Stevens headed wide at the near post following a Carshalton corner before a flare-up between Honey and Lee Carney saw both players booked. The Hornets were striving unsuccessfully to get their attacking game going and seemed to miss the presence of their big target man as Knee and Liam Baitup were comfortably kept at bay by the Carshalton defenders.

Inevitably, the Robins' pressure paid off and they found the breakthrough ten minutes from the break. Stevens sent a header straight at Seuke, from Simon Cooper's superb cross, and Jolly fired across the face of goal before yet another home attack saw Lewis Gonsalves' shot blocked and Dean Carpenter was well placed to crash a shot past Seuke from the edge of the penalty area for a deserved equaliser.

Yet, despite being under the cosh for so long, Horsham recovered from being pegged back to regain the lead just before the break. Two corners were won in quick succession and the second, delivered to the near post by Carey, was turned in by Charman (right) to the delight of a decent sized travelling contingent who were able to enjoy their half-time pint with their side holding a slender, if perhaps fortuitous, advantage.

H/T Carshalton Athletic 1 Horsham 2

If the Hornets' tremendous start to the match had taken their hosts by surprise, the Robins clearly hadn't learned any lessons as 2-1 became 3-1 just three minutes after the restart when Alex Haddow's quick throw found Carney and, when his mishit shot fell favourably for Baitup (left), the former Eastbourne Town man slotted the ball past Phil Wilson for the second goal of his short Horsham career.

The frustration of falling two goals behind may well have contributed to Kadi's late challenge on Carey that earned the Carshalton man a booking and, although the hosts tried to haul themselves back in the game, their endeavours lacked the self-belief of the first half and chances grew fewer and fewer against the Horsham defence that was well marshalled by skipper Sam Page.

Clarke's deflected shot earned a corner, but no more, and the visitors were content to slow the game down. Carey was caught in two minds after dispossessing Honey and a promising position came to nought and, a minute later, Charman saw a looping header sail narrowly over the frame of Wilson's goal before the Hornets made the points secure with an impressive goal. Left-back Eldridge collected the ball inside his own half, played it inside to Knee and continued his run where he was superbly found by Carney's excellent through ball to finish well beyond the goalkeeper. After Wednesday night's deflected free-kick winner against Staines Town, there was no disputing the executioner of this goal as Eldridge wheeled away in triumph.

The confidence was growing in Maggs' players and Baitup chanced his arm from thirty yards, although failing to trouble Wilson with his volley, before a rare second half effort from Jolly flew harmlessly across the face of Seuke's goal. Hayden Bird introduced James Evans and David Graves for Kadi and Collins with a quarter of an hour remaining and the home side almost found a lifeline, minutes later, when Stevens' shot rebounded off a post following a melee in the Horsham penalty area.

Carshalton's afternoon was summed up in disastrous fashion, six minutes from time, when Carney's long ball forward caused confusion between Graves and Wilson and Knee had the simple task of putting the ball in to the unguarded net to complete the nap hand for the jubilant visitors. Jeremiah was rewarded for giving up his Bank Holiday with a five minute cameo appearance, in place of Baitup, and a late blast from the Robins saw Stevens come close with a header, that was tipped over by Seuke, and Graves failed to atone for his earlier error by putting a late chance wide.

NEXT MATCH: v Harlow Town (h) Saturday 30th August ko 3pm