HORSHAM 3 Maidstone United 1
A2B Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing
Attendance: 233
Wednesday 15th October 2008
Ryman League Premier Division
Referee: Mr D.J.W.Austin

HORSHAM

MAIDSTONE UNITED

1.Paul Seuke
2.Jack Page
3.Mark Knee
4.Andy Howard
5.Russell Eldridge
6.Lee Farrell
7.Jacob Mingle
8.Lee Carey
9.Evan Archibald
10.Jean-Michel Sigere
11.Alex Haddow
Subs:
12.Michael Dale
14.Joey Collewijn
15.Tony Nwachukwu
17.Rob Frankland

Goalscorers:
Archibald (12)
Knee (26)
Farrell (68)

1.Andy Walker
2.Nathan Paul
3.Meshach Nugent
4.Ben Lewes
5.Ian Cox
6.Andy Martin (Schoburgh,70)
7.Ian Selley (Mooney,45)
8.Kevin Watson
9.James Pinnock
10.Lloyd Blackman
11.Elliot Bradbrook
Subs:
12.Seb Schoburgh
14.Keelan Mooney
15.Arron Lacy
16.Craig Thompson

Goalscorers:
Selley (29)

Reporter: Mark Wells
Photographs: John Lines and Damian Carter
Match highlights: here (courtesy of STONEStv)

Horsham achieved back-to-back wins for the first time since August with a first league win in 8 attempts against away day specialists Maidstone United. Evan Archibald and Mark Knee got the Hornets off to the perfect start with goals on 12 and 26 minutes and, although former Arsenal midfielder Ian Selley reduced the arrears with a first half penalty, Lee Farrell put the seal on an impressive victory that moved John Maggs' side in to 15th place in the Ryman League Premier Division table.

Horsham's hopes of a first league win in more than 6 weeks were dealt a blow before kick-off when Lee Carney failed a fitness test on his injured knee and, with a youthful bench that included teenagers Tony Nwachukwu, Michael Dale and new signing Joey Collewijn, supporters would have been forgiven for fearing the worst against a side that had joined the Hornets in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Halesowen Town the previous weekend and who were looking for a repeat of last year's 2-1 win at Queen Street.

But it was the hosts who almost drew first blood after just 4 minutes when Jean-Michel Sigere made a nuisance of himself inside the area and Archibald crashed the loose ball against the crossbar before heading the rebound straight at goalkeeper Andy Walker. The Hornets' leading marksman didn't have long to wait before claiming his 7th goal of the season, though, when Walker's smart save from Lee Farrell presented the home side with another corner that was delivered high and long to the far post for Archibald to force the ball home despite the presence of Nathan Paul on the line.

The Stones might have levelled things up when James Pinnock played in Meshach Nugent but Paul Seuke produced a fine save from the full-back's stinging drive and a free-kick from Selley only just cleared the crossbar. An entertaining opening also saw Lee Carey and Sigere send in efforts on goal for the home side before the lead was doubled on 26 minutes with a classy move. Farrell, revelling in his new role on the right flank, cut inside and played a crossfield pass to Alex Haddow who quickly laid the ball in to the path of the overlapping Mark Knee to race away from the labouring Kevin Watson and send a perfectly placed shot across Walker and inside the far post.

The Stones were back in the contest within 3 minutes when Walker's clearance was headed on by Nugent and Pinnock, ghosting in unnoticed behind the Horsham defence, was felled in the area by Seuke enabling Selley to reduce the deficit from the spot with the goalkeeper no doubt counting his blessing for escaping a red card.

This was a confident display from Maggs' side, though, and they went in search of a third goal before the break with Sigere unfortunate to see his goalbound shot hit Paul on the goal-line after good approach play from Jacob Mingle. A strong run and shot from the increasingly impressive Haddow was saved well by Walker who did well to reach the loose ball before Archibald to ensure that just a single goal goal divided the sides at the interval.

H/T Horsham 2 Maidstone United 1

The visitors made a switch at the start of the second half with Keelan Mooney replacing Selley but it was the hosts who were to enjoy the better of the second half in which only Walker stood between Horsham and an even greater winning margin. Farrell was denied by the former Bromley stopper, after being played in by Jack Page, and Sigere also kept the 'keeper busy with a turn and shot from the edge of the box before the same player helped on a Haddow cross for Archibald to head over the top.

Archibald will feel he should have claimed his second of the night when a big clearance from Andy Howard was headed in to his path by Sigere but, having raced unopposed in to the penalty area, he was denied by the fingertips of Walker who spread himself well to deny him the shooting chance.

The third goal inevitably came in the 68th minute and was just reward for Farrell, who capped his best display of the season with his first goal since April. Archibald held the ball up in the corner before finding Haddow who tricked his way in to the box with some ease to fire in a shot that was pushed out as far as Farrell who jubilantly smashed it in to the back of the net from 3 yards.

The introduction of Seb Schoburgh for Andy Martin briefly livened up the Stones attack and the substitute saw his shot blocked on the line while Seuke had to save from Ian Cox but the remaining minutes were seen out with some comfort by the hosts who are beginning to show signs of their early season form.

NEXT MATCH: v Sittingbourne (h) Sunday 19th October ko 3pm