HORSHAM 2 Staines Town 1
A2B Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing
Attendance: 239
Wednesday 20th August 2008
Ryman League Premier Division
Referee: Mr M McCoy

HORSHAM

STAINES TOWN

1.Paul Seuke
2.Jack Page
3.Russell Eldridge
4.Eddie French (Howard,58)
5.Sam Page
6.Lee Carney
7.Lee Carey
8.Gary Charman
9.Evan Archibald
10.Liam Baitup (Knee,68)
11.Alex Haddow
Subs:
12.Jacob Mingle
14.Mark Knee
15.Andy Howard
16.Shane Graham
17.Ian Payne

Goalscorers:
Haddow(27)
Eldridge (84)

1.Louis Wells
2.Jake Newton
3.Dave Sargent
4.Danny Gordon
5.Lee Kersey
6.David Haule (Thomas,86)
7.Howard Newton
8.Gareth Risbridger
9.Richard Butler
10.Elliott Onochie (Charles-Smith,80)
11.Lewis Cook
Subs:
12.Dean Fenton
14.Marien Ifura
15.Jon McDonald
16.Dean Thomas
17.Marc Charles-Smith

Goalscorers:
Onochie (35)

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

Horsham marked their debut at their temporary Worthing 'home' with an excellent win against Staines Town but the success was overshadowed by a sickening injury that saw defender Eddie French (left) taken to hospital with an horrific leg break that threatens to rule him out for the rest of the season. A compelling encounter was delicately poised at 1-1 when, ten minutes after the interval, French went to ground after falling awkwardly causing play to be held up for five minutes while the stricken former captain received treatment before being taken by ambulance to Worthing Hospital where he was later diagnosed as having suffered a broken tibia, dislocated ankle and damaged ligaments.

The incident marred what was an otherwise entertaining match against one of the pre-season promotion favourites with the Hornets gaining partial revenge for the two heavy defeats meted out by their opponents last season.

Although there was a slice of good fortune about Horsham's winning goal, a deflection from a late Russell Eldridge free-kick, the game had already been lit up by two expertly crafted goals to reward the 239 hardy souls who braved the unseasonable downpour that left the Woodside Road pitch glistening as if encrusted by a million tiny diamonds. Both sides had shown some enterprising approach play but it was Alex Haddow who gave Horsham the lead after an exquisite interchange with Lee Carney and Elliott Onochie quickly levelled for the visitors when he skilfully turned French before lifting the ball over Paul Seuke in the home goal.

The visitors could consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken at least a point after showing just why they have been so highly fancied this term, pinging the ball around quickly and accurately on a perfect playing surface, but they found Seuke and his defenders in determined form.  With Carney haven shaken off the effects of a bruised knee, John Maggs was able to select an unchanged XI from that which begun Saturday's match at Canvey but there was a last minute switch on the bench with Jacob Mingle replacing Lee Farrell, after the striker injured his groin during the warm up, and former Worthing man Mark Knee made his first appearance of the season after missing the weekend victory. Bizarrely, Staines suffered their own pre-match mishap when Darti Brown damaged his hamstring and was replaced by Jon McDonald.

The Swans began strongly with Henry Newton forcing Seuke in to conceding a corner in the opening minute and then rattling the crossbar, sixty seconds later, through Lewis Cook's mishit cross. Carney was to have the home side's first effort of the game when he stole the ball away from Cook and headed towards goal where his low drive brought a save out of Louis Wells. The visitors should have taken the lead on nine minutes when Henry Newton blazed over from eight yards following Sam Page's goal saving challenge on Onochie but the Staines goal lead a charmed life as the Hornets responded through Liam Baitup who brought a fine double save from Wells after being first set up by Gary Charman.

Steve Cordrey's side were enjoying the majority of the early possession and created several good openings. Newton was wasteful with a twenty yarder that flew high and wide but Seuke was called upon to save with his feet from Cook's more precise shot and Onochie ignored the presence of his unmarked team-mate but failed to get the desired power behind his shot after Carney was dispossessed in midfield.

It was somewhat against the run of play, then, that Horsham got their noses in front on 27 minutes when Haddow (left) collected Lee Carey's deep corner, the hosts' first of the night, and laid it back for Carney before racing on to his team-mate's defence splitting pass to tuck the ball into the far corner of the net for a splendid opening goal.

Straight after the resumption Evan Archibald, Saturday's two goal debutant, picked up a loose ball and raced thirty yards to test Wells with a low shot and the 'keeper made a good save to keep out Liam Baitup's goalbound header, reacting well to deny the striker a goal from the follow up effort. Ironically, just as the Hornets looked to be gaining the upper hand, Staines drew level. A quick throw out from Wells sent Jake Newton on his way and his low pass down the right flank saw Onochie execute a skilful flick that left French standing, giving the striker a clear run on goal where he calmly chipped the ball over the diving Seuke for a fine equaliser.

Onochie threatened again soon after but, this time, French was able to make a timely block and the danger was averted. Staines' Paul Butler, perhaps frustrated at his side's inability to capitalise on their first half superiority, earned a caution for kicking out at Eldridge and it was the Hornets who finished the half in the ascendancy when Baitup worked hard to gain possession down the Horsham right to set up Carney but his team-mate completely missed his kick with the goal in his sights.

H/T Horsham 1 Staines Town 1

A half-time dressing down from John Maggs saw the Horsham players return with renewed vigour but they were rocked within ten minutes by French's injury and might have been forgiven for taking their eye off the evening's task. Jack Page had to clear Butler's effort off the line and the home side were grateful to the young full-back for repeating the trick when he was in the right place to deny the visitors once more.

The hard working Baitup was replaced by Knee on 68 minutes and the substitute was given a warm reception on his return to his old stomping ground. Carney was inches away from producing an outrageous goal for the hosts when he tried an audacious shot from some forty yards that cannoned off the crossbar and the back of the retreating goalkeeper before falling behind for a corner and Butler had a penalty appeal turned down after tumbling over Seuke when through on goal.

With ten minutes of the scheduled ninety remaining, Cordrey threw on Marc Charles-Smith for Onochie in a straight swap but it was Horsham who were to claim the winning goal on 84 minutes when a free-kick gave Eldridge (left) the chance to send in a devilish cross that appeared to connect with the head of Staines' David Haule on its way past the flat-footed Wells and in to the bottom corner of the net. To add to the luckless midfielder's misery, he was soon replaced by Dean Thomas as the visitors looked to provide a sting in the tail and deny their opponents a second successive victory.

Yet, despite some sustained pressure on Seuke's goal, it was not to be and Haddow almost rubbed salt in to the wounds when he tried his luck from distance but a third goal would have been harsh on a Staines side who, if they can convert their many chances, will undoubtedly be among the leading pack at the end of the season. And, after this result, who would bet against John Maggs' team being up there with them ?

NEXT MATCH: v Heybridge Swifts (h) Saturday 23rd August ko 3.00pm