HORSHAM 2 Margate 0
A2B Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing
Attendance: 278
Saturday 8th November 2008
Ryman League Premier Division
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer

HORSHAM

MARGATE

1 Paul Seuke
2 Lee Carey
3 Mark Knee
5 Sam Page
4 Anthony Acheampong
6 Lee Farrell (Nwachukwu,86)
7 Jacob Mingle
8 Russell Eldridge
9 Evan Archibald
10 Jean-Michel Sigere
11 Gary Charman
Subs:
12 Tom Graves
14 Andy Howard
15 Tony Nwachukwu
16 Ian Payne
17 Rob Frankland

Goalscorers:
Charman (6)
Farrell (7)

1 Scott Chalmers-Stevens
2 Ryan Peters (Coleman,35)
3 Danny Kerrigan (Harker,13)
4 Dan Young
5 Jack Parkinson
6 Luke Weatley
7 Kenny Pratt
8 Dan Stubbs (Morris,56)
9 Mo Takalobigashi
10 Wayne Wilson
11 Aaron Quain
Subs:
12 Mark Beresford
14 James Gregory
15 Luke Coleman
16 Kieran Morris
17 Ryan Harker
 

Reporter: Mark Wells
Photographs: John Lines
Match highlights: here

Horsham bounced back from their cup disappointments with a comfortable win against troubled Margate in front of an encouraging 278 crowd at the Woodside Stadium. Two quickfire goals inside the opening seven minutes of this Ryman Premier Division meeting threatened a landslide victory for the hosts against a side who seem destined for a season of struggle after picking up just three wins all season and who look likely to face a ten point penalty for applying for a Company Voluntary Arrangement to aid their efforts in clearing outstanding debts. That the Hornets failed to capitalise on their undoubted superiority was down to the excellent Scott Chalmers-Stevens who denied Horsham on several occasions while Evan Archibald saw a second half effort hit the upright.

This had been a testing fortnight for Horsham boss John Maggs who, but for an 81st minute equaliser by Stevenage Borough's Scott Laird, would have been leading his side out at Leicester City's Walkers Stadium instead of a wet and windy Worthing and he was forced in to a reshuffle of his side after injury and suspension had deprived him of Lee Carney, Jack Page and Alex Haddow. The decision by goalkeeper Paul Seuke to quit the game after this match to concentrate on his business interests had begun a frantic search for a replacement although the long serving manager was given a boost when Lee Carey announced he would remain with the club despite interest from former side Hastings United this week. Russell Eldridge, so impressive at centre-back in recent weeks, was asked to take Carney's spot in midfield as Sam Page continued his recovery from injury by reclaiming the captain's armband to join Tony Acheampong in the heart of the defence. Carey lined up at right-back while, up front, Maggs elected to play all three of his strikers in Lee Farrell, Jean-Michel Sigere and Evan Archibald.

There was a group presentation before the match in recognition of Andy Howard, Ian Payne and Jacob Mingle's 100 club appearances while Carney picked up an award for passing 300 games before the crowd stood silent in memory of Britain's fallen servicemen and women, the peace broken only by the far off cry of the seagulls on Worthing seafront.

It was the visitors, under the temporary stewardship of former Leeds, Spurs and Wales legend Terry Yorath, who began the game in lively fashion and a weak punch from Seuke was fired wide by Dan Stubbs and, a minute later, a loose clearance from the 'keeper saw Kenny Pratt flash a shot past the upright. The hosts soon fought back, though, and scored from their second corner of the game when Carey curled in an inviting ball to the near post where Gary Charman (left) rose unmarked to power home a header. It was the perfect start for Horsham who were celebrating again, less than a minute later, when Charman's quick throw released Farrell (below) who scored with an unstoppable volley to register his 6th goal of the season.

Luke Weatley headed over the top from a corner for Margate, who made their first switch on 13 minutes when Ryan Harker replaced Danny Kerrigan, and Jacob Mingle replied in kind for the hosts who were indebted to Seuke for maintaining the two goal advantage when he saved well at his near post from a decent effort from Stubbs.

Mo Takaloo should have done better than drag a shot wide for the visitors, after a mistake by Page, and Charman might feel the same after miscuing a shot from eight yards although his unheeded claims for an infringement might have accounted for his inaccuracy following some good work by Sigere on the far touchline. Farrell's determined run in to the heart of the 'Gate defence was halted by a timely challenge from Weatley and more dogged defending from the visitors saw Archibald's shot deflected behind as the game reached the half hour mark.

Dan Young was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to knock Sigere to the ground when contesting a free-kick from Eldridge and, as the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, the 'Gate skipper was on hand to clear Page's goalbound effort off the line as the visitors' goal began to lead a charmed life. From the corner, a determined run and shot from Archibald brought a good save from Chalmers-Stevens before Takaloo almost punished some sloppy Horsham defending but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Ryan Peters was replaced by Luke Coleman on 35 minutes, after being stretchered off the pitch to have stitches inserted in to a leg wound, but the hold up failed to disrupt Horsham's rhythmn and an excellent flowing move involving Farrell, Sigere and Archibald saw Chalmers-Stevens keep out the former's low drive with Sigere miscuing the rebound wide.

The Hornets threatened to extend their lead once more before the break when Mingle effortlessly sidestepped a challenge in the midfield and released Farrell but Sigere was unable to get a touch on his team-mate's low cross and Mingle blasted the rebound wide.

H/T Horsham 2 Margate 0

The second half brought little respite for the Margate defence and Archibald had three opportunities to extend the lead inside the opening seven minutes. A mistake from Harker gifted the ball to Eldridge whose intelligent pass saw Archibald's first time shot pushed away by Chalmers-Stevens from close range and, moments later, a strong run from Horsham's leading scorer ended with him lashing the ball against the upright with Young's desperate lunge deflecting Archibald's follow-up behind for a corner.

A snap shot from Charman went wide before a heavy downpour added to the already slippery conditions and a rare break from the visitors saw Pratt head wide, after Parkinson was allowed to carry the ball to the edge of the Hornets' penalty area, before Yorath made his side's final substitution of the afternoon by sending on Kieran Morris for Stubbs. Chalmers-Stevens remained the busiest player in the Margate side and an unorthodox save from Charman kept the scoreline presentable when he saved a swerving shot with his legs but he was more impressive when the same player cut inside Harker and arrowed a drive towards the top corner only to see the overworked 'keeper brilliantly palm the ball away to safety.

Eldridge enjoyed an excellent match in the centre of midfield and he was inches away from making it 3-0 when he sent a 25 yarder over the top from Sigere's intelligent lay-off but, despite the late introduction of Tony Nwachukwu for Farrell, Horsham were unable to force another breakthrough and it was left to Margate's Stubbs to have the final say, clipping a free-kick wide of Seuke's goal from 30 yards.

So Seuke left the club as he began, with a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory, and he was 'honoured' by the supporters who sang a rendition of "Paul Seuke's Lardy Army" during the game before being given an emotional send off at the final whistle. 

NEXT MATCH: v Boreham Wood (a) Saturday 15th November ko 3pm