Herne Bay 0 HORSHAM 2
Winch's Field, Herne Bay
Saturday 19th July 2008
Titch Willet Trophy

         GOALSCORERS

         * * *
         Herne Bay
          -
         HORSHAM
      Jack Page (13)
        Sam Jeremiah (90)
      
         Attendance
         66 (est.)

         Referee: Lee Venamore
   Assistants: Paul Beadle
                    Kevin Welsh

1.Paul Seuke
2.Yinka Salaam
3.Mark Knee
4.Andy Howard
5.Sam Page
6.Jack Page
7.Jacob Mingle
8.Lee Carey
9.Lee Farrell
10.Reggie Savage 
11.Alex Haddow
Subs:
12.Rob Collins
14.Sam Jeremiah
15.Will Broomfield
16.Russell Eldridge
17.Eddie French
18.Ian Payne
 

reporter: Ivan Raby

Horsham made the trip to Winch's Field for this pre season friendly with the added incentive of an early piece of silverware on offer in the shape of the Titch Willett Memorial Shield and John Maggs brought down a strong squad to the ground where he himself once plied his trade and, indeed, is considered by many supporters as the best 'keeper to play in the blue and white colours of Herne Bay.

On the recently transformed pitch the Hornets attacked with the wind at their backs and were soon putting the hosts under pressure. Yinka Salaam went close after a good run down the right, the full back cutting inside but his effort went over the bar. Two minutes later the deadlock was broken with another move from the right flank. This time Lee Carey put in a low cross which Horsham midfielder Jack Page was quickest to react to with a good finish in front of goal. A 20th minute effort from Lee Farrell was deflected for a corner before the Hornets' striker came in for some nasty attention from Bay's Darren Marsden who was given a talking to by referee Lee Venamore who decided to keep the game on a friendly level by not bringing out a card. Farrell was certainly in the thick of the action and should have got himself on the score sheet but his free header went wide of the post. The Hornets remained comfortably on top and went in at the break still with the one goal advantage.

H/T Herne Bay 0 Horsham 1

Horsham made three changes at the break with Eddie French, Will Broomfield and Russell Eldridge replacing Andy Howard, Salaam and Farrell with Mark Knee, who had begun the game in defence,  moving up front to partner the lively Reggie Savage. However, Horsham never really got their passing game going in the second half and were not helped when they lost Jacob Mingle to injury midway through the half. This introduced Sam Jerimire to the game who now formed a new front duo with Rob Collins who replaced Savage. Paul Seuke was called into action twice in five minutes to make a couple of good saves to insure Horsham stayed in front but the hosts' Max Ciano should have done better than fire high and wide from a Danny Lawrence pass.

Collins, back in Horsham colours for the first time in more than 5 years, shot straight at Bay goalkeeper Shaun Smith before the hosts came close to an equaliser, this time the woodwork twice coming to the Hornets' rescue when Neil Perkins' header smacked against the crossbar and falling for the unmarked Rhys Lawson who drilled his shot against the post.

With five minutes remaining, Horsham made their sixth and final substitution with Ian Payne coming on for Knee. The Kent League club kept pushing for the goal which would almost certainly mean a share of the trophy but it was Horsham who wrapped it up in the final minute when Alex Haddow, playing on the left side of midfield, put Jerimire through in the box and his shot went through the 'keeper's legs and over the goal-line, despite the valiant efforts of the covering defender. The final whistle sounded less then a minute later and captain Sam Page was asked to step forward to lift the Shield at the on pitch presentation, hastily returning it to the home officials for safe-keeping and being re-presented with a  commemorative keepsake by the very friendly Herne Bay officials.

NEXT MATCH: v Eastbourne Borough (h) Tuesday 22nd July ko 7.45pm