Tony Nwachukwu inspired a rousing second half fightback as the Hornets overturned a two goal deficit to claim a share of the spoils against visiting Carshalton Athletic. The teenager winger capped an exciting display with a superb strike that halved the visitors' advantage, presented to them by first half headers from Richard Jolly and Lewis Gonsalves, and a penalty from Lee Carney provided the platform for an enthralling second half contest that saw both sides go close to claiming maximum points for the first time in 4 matches.

The Bank Holiday programme had been a disaster for these two now familiar opponents, each beaten twice over the holiday weekend, and the Robins' week was thrown into further turmoil with the subsequent resignation of boss Hayden Bird, leaving Head Coach Ian Hazel to take temporary charge of the side for their visit to sunny Gorings Mead. Thankfully not quite so turbulent times at Horsham but John Maggs' preparations for the match were hindered by the all-too-familiar injury problems that saw him once again without the services of Gary Charman, James Nicholls and - although he was among the substitutes - Jack Page who Maggs admits needs time to recover from a persistent hip complaint.

The troubles continued for Maggs as early as the fifth minute when Claude Seanla pulled up sharply with what looked like a hamstring problem and he was to last just a few more minutes before being replaced by Nwachukwu, who took up his position on the right-hand side of midfield. Rob Tolfrey passed an early test when the prolific Jolly was played in behind the Horsham defence by Barry Stevens but the striker was denied his fifth goal of the season by the goalkeeper's outstretched leg. However, the former AFC Wimbledon man had greater luck with his head when, on 18 minutes, he got on the end of a cross from Jamie England to beat Tolfrey with a neat flick that gave the visitors some welcome joy.

Their joy turned to euphoria, just seven minutes later, when Jack MacLeod was given the time and space to return his own poorly executed corner and Gonsalves stunned the home crowd by powering home a header from six yards to extend the Robins' lead. Horsham needed a quick reply and they should have had it within two minutes of the restart when Ben Andrews showed good feet to skip past a couple of challenges inside the Carshalton penalty area and turn the ball invitingly in to the path of Pat Harding who blazed wastefully over the crossbar, although credit should go to MacLeod whose challenge on the former Eastbourne Borough man was enough to prevent Harding from reducing the arrears.

Carshalton were understandably buoyant after their quick-fire double and Adrian Toppin might have made it 3-0 when he was picked out at the far post by David Graves but Tolfrey's acrobatics kept out the header. Jolly and Stevens then combined to set up the latter, following a quick throw-in, but Stevens' low shot zipped narrowly past Tolfrey's right hand post with the 'keeper beaten. Gonsalves was inches away from embarrassing Russell Eldridge when the Horsham man was dispossessed when trying to run the ball out of defence but Gonsalves' drive went the way of Stevens' before him, missing the far post by a whisker and a disappointing half from the home side ended in more frustration with Mark Knee picking up a caution for pulling back MacLeod.

H/T Horsham 0 Carshalton Athletic 2

The home fans had every reason for concern at the break, given their side's recent poor second half showings against Canvey and Hastings but they were given early cause form optimism when, within a minute of the restart, Alex Haddow played a neat one-two with Carney before delivering a dangerous ball in to the box causing Liam Harwood to clear from almost underneath the crossbar.

Encouraged by this, and the constant probing of the energetic Nwachukwu on the right flank, Horsham dragged themselves back in the match on 50 minutes when Eldridge's skill and vision picked out the youngster who bamboozled his marker, cut inside and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that ripped in to the back of the net with 'keeper Matt Reed helpless. The acrobatic celebrations that followed drew almost as enthusiastic a response from the appreciative home fans as the goal itself.

There was a renewed belief about the Hornets now and Nwachukwu got the better of Harwood to deliver a cross to the far post where Haddow's hurried shot was beaten away by the defence and it was more fine work from Nwachukwu that led to the equalising goal on 54 minutes.  Forcing a corner out of the full-back, Nwachukwu took his place inside the area in anticipation of Eldridge's delivery but all eyes were on referee Yerby who adjudged Toppin to have fouled Anthony Acheampong as the ball was sent in to the box and promptly handed the Carshalton man a caution and Horsham a spot-kick. Carney's execution from 12 yards was emphatic, sending Reed the wrong way, and it was all square again with 36 minutes left to play.

Nwachukwu's fine work was almost undone, though, when his hasty clearance  fell only as far as Paul Honey who let fly from 30 yards. But, to the youngster's relief, Honey's shot lacked direction and flew in to the netting behind Tolfrey's goal. A few of the travelling contingent were on their feet after an hour when a smart turn by Jolly ended with his shot shaving the far post and Acheampong was booked for pulling back the lively Stevens as the visitors enjoyed a good period of pressure.

Hazel made a double substitution on 66 minutes, sending on Ammi Bashira and Simon Cooper in place of England and MacLeod but, before either man could make an impression, it was Harwood again to his side's rescue when his vital clearance prevented Harding from converting Andrews' clever flick on. Goal poacher Jolly was quick to pick up the scent of a chance at the other end but his shot was blocked by Delando Smith on his home debut and Andrews' header went wide as the game became stretched as the two sides went all out for the win.

Horsham had the next chance when a long free-kick from Tolfrey saw Andrews react quickest to his own knock-on by turning and hitting a dipping volley that landed on the roof of the net. Nwachukwu was felled by a cynical challenge from behind that deservedly earned skipper Scott Cousins a yellow card before Maggs made the first of two late substitutions by replacing Eldridge with Steve Davies and the switch almost paid instant dividends for the Hornets when Davies returned Reed's week punched clearance over the 'keeper's head but could only watch in despair as the ball dropped just wide of the target.

Nwachukwu departed to a well-earned reception from the home fans, with Jack Lyons coming on for the final four minutes or so, but there was no let up in the excitement with the additional three minutes of injury-time witnessing further chances for each side to claim a victory. Jolly was denied by a marginal offside flag, and Tolfrey's legs, but a quick counter-attack by Horsham saw Lyons' cross chested behind for another corner that resulted in Cooper clearing Sam Page's header off the line. The Hornets' skipper's pinpoint pass to Haddow set up the last chance of a thoroughly entertaining half but Andrews was unable to supply the perfect ending to the afternoon for Maggs' side, heading Haddow's cross beyond the upright.

NEXT MATCH: v Tooting & Mitcham United (a) Saturday 12th September ko 3pm