HORSHAM 2 Paulton Rovers 1
A2B Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing
Attendance: 297
Saturday 11th October 2008
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
(sponsored by Eon)
Referee: A.S.Parker

HORSHAM

PAULTON ROVERS

1.Paul Seuke
2.Jack Page
3.Mark Knee
4.Andy Howard
5.Russell Eldridge
6.Lee Carney (Dale,82)
7.Jacob Mingle
8.Lee Carey
9.Evan Archibald
10.Jean-Michel Sigere (Farrell,86)
11.Alex Haddow
Subs:
12.Lee Farrell
14.Billy Franks
15.Michael Dale
16.Ian Payne
17.Rob Frankland

Goalscorers:
Mingle (37)
Sigere (pen,72)

1.Kyle Phillips
2.Dean Pendry
3.Danny Boys (Shephard,88)
4.Ollie Price
5.Jason Hughes (Hulbert,70)
6.Rob Cousins
7.Ben Cleverley
8.Jon French
9.Rob Claridge
10.Dan Cleverley
11.Chris Lane
Subs:
12.Josh Jefferies
14.Peter Sheppard
15.Ricky Hulbert
16.Callum Stewart
17.Courtney Redwood

Goalscorers:
Ben Cleverley (89)

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

The smiles returned to Woodside Road as Horsham bounced back from their four goal mauling at Tonbridge Angels to secure victory against Paulton Rovers, a cheque for £7,500 and an appearance in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup for the second successive season.

Led by the excellent Lee Carney, the Hornets showed glimpses of their early season form to take a deserved 2-0 lead but were made to sweat when Ben Cleverley brilliantly converted an 88th minute free-kick and a tense finale saw John Maggs' side survive three injury-time corners before taking the honours in this first ever meeting between the two sides.

Carney was just one of several of Maggs' star players whose injuries had been blamed for the side's recent poor run of form that had produced just three victories in their last ten matches, all of them in this competition, and it was no coincidence that one of Horsham's best displays in recent weeks came with Carney's return to action as he put in a man of the match display, providing the driving force and vision from midfield. But it was new signing Jean-Michel Sigere who was to prove the match winner, converting a 72nd minute penalty to make the first repayment following his arrival on loan from Eastbourne Borough.

Sigere's return meant a reshuffle for Maggs who dropped Billy Franks and Lee Farrell to the bench, moving Mark Knee to left back and Russell Eldridge in to the centre of defence alongside Andy Howard, but there were concerns that the new formation would have to be delayed after Paulton's long journey from their Somerset home saw them arrive at the ground at 2.35pm but they were quickly put through their paces on a beautiful Autumnal afternoon with referee Parker allowing an additional five minutes' preparation, getting the match underway at 3.05pm.

Rovers, beaten just once all season, ignored the rigours of their gruelling four hour journey and began the game brightly, getting the ball in the back of the net after just 2 minutes only for it to be harshly ruled out for offside against Ollie Price. Carney was wildly off target when he accepted a throw from Knee, sending his effort spinning out for a throw on the far touchline, but he soon found his range when he put a pinpoint pass on to Evan Archibald's toe only for the striker's miscontrol to let him down and the danger was cleared.

A weak defensive clearance from Howard presented Jon French with a  free shot but a poor connection made for a simple save for Paul Seuke and the Horsham 'keeper watched on with some relief when Ben Cleverley sent in a chip that was headed harmlessly across goal by Price as the visitors maintained their promising start. Rovers showed they had a bite to their game, too, when French went in to the book for a challenge on Jacob Mingle and, from the resulting free-kick, Mingle's cross just eluded the diving Archibald at the far post.

Neat play from Lee Carey on the right touchline produced the game's brightest moment so far when a dummy, turn and cross in to the middle was met first time by Sigere who sent a looping effort arcing towards the roof of the net only for the backpedalling Kyle Phillips to tip the ball spectacularly over the crossbar. From the corner, a knock down from Knee saw Archibald unsuccessful in his attempts to force the ball home at the far post.

The home side were beginning to enjoy the bulk of the possession at this stage but Jack Page, Archibald and Alex Haddow all tried, and failed, to open the scoring before Price brought a save out of Seuke from Ben Cleverley's corner. Archibald had claims for a penalty turned away when he appeared to have been hauled down on the edge of the box  but his grievances were forgotten when the Hornets took the lead, moments later. A patient build up looked to have broken down on the edge of the Paulton penalty area but Sigere quickly recovered the situation and found Haddow who sent a delightful chip to the far post where Mingle (right) rose unchallenged to head past Phillips for his second goal of the season. 

The visitors looked for an instant reply but skipper Dan Cleverley's low shot was comfortably fielded by Seuke before another great Horsham move almost saw the lead doubled when Archibald and Carney combined superbly down the left for the former Eastbourne youngster to hit a first time shot that was brilliantly kept out by the diving Phillips to leave Mingle's shot the narrow division between the sides at the break.

H/T Horsham 1 Paulton Rovers 0

A strong run from Archibald saw the second half start with a corner for the hosts but that's as good as it got for the next quarter of an hour until the same player laid the ball off for Sigere to hit a 20 yard volley that was easy for Phillips. Possession continued to be traded fairly evenly, without either side looking likely to threaten the scoreline, but Dan Cleverley gave the Hornets backline a scare when he evaded the attentions of Howard to cross in to the box where Seuke confidently claimed.

Horsham had lost much of their early impetus and spark but they were literally handed a second goal on 72 minutes when a quick counter-attack involving Carey, Mingle and Haddow saw the latter's cross blocked illegally by the arm of Dean Pendry and Sigere (left) fired the ball under Phillips' body from twelve yards to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Rovers had justifiable cause to claim a spot-kick of  their own, soon after the restart, when Dan Cleverley appeared to have been pushed in the back by Knee but the visitors had to content themselves with a corner from which Haddow was on hand to clear Price's header off the line. The Southern Leaguers were making a decent attempt to salvage something from their long day but Chris Lane put a shot wide before the game was broken up by two quickfire substitutions, Lee Farrell replacing the limping Sigere and Michael Dale making his Hornets debut in place of Carney with little more than five of the ninety minutes remaining.

The Horsham youngster was quickly involved, finding himself penalised for an unlawful challenge but Lane spared the substitute further punishment when he sliced the ball wide of goal. With time running out for the visitors, Peter Sheppard was introduced for defender Danny Boys and they were thrown a lifeline in the 89th minute when a foul on Claridge by Eldridge gave Ben Cleverley the opportunity to display his talents from 20 yards. Sure enough, the man who Maggs claimed had "the sweetest left foot you'll ever see", didn't let himself down, curling his shot in to the back of the net to leave Horsham with a few last nervy minutes with which to see out the game. 

Three corners were won by the marauding visitors, the most dangerous of which saw Haddow clear off the line from Sheppard, but Horsham might have made the game safe with an attack of their own when a driven pass from Haddow picked out Farrell who took one touch to bring the ball down with his right foot and stab the ball past the far upright with his left.

But it mattered not for, within seconds, Mr Parker's whistle signalled the end of the match and Horsham were off to join fellow Ryman Leaguers AFC Hornchurch, Ashford (Mx), Burgess Hill, Dover Athletic, Maidstone, Harlow, Hendon and Sutton in the hat for Monday's 4th Qualifying round draw.

NEXT MATCH: v Maidstone United (h) Wednesday 15th October ko 7.45pm