HORSHAM SQUAD

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Joe Moss

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Jack Reeves

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Goalscorers

 AFC Brighton & Hove 2 HORSHAM 1

Sunday 4th December 2011

Sussex Sunday Youth League Cup

Horsham were put under immediate pressure from the kick-off and then had to call upon ‘keeper, Joe Moss, in the third minute who dived and caught the ball well from a Brighton strike just inside the penalty area. Brighton then came close following a long throw-in which landed inside the six yard box but their hooked shot was just wide of the top corner. Horsham broke back, earning a corner which was swung in by Finn Bigg, Dan Cusdin rose to meet it but his header met the foot of the post. Hugo Cowan picked up the rebound but his shot pulled out a point blank range save from the Brighton ‘keeper who parried and Liam Clarke blazed it wide.

Brighton took the lead on eight minutes with a break down the right and a clean shot after cutting inside. They continued to pressure the Horsham defence with the long ball over the top and the lads had to be organised to keep the lid on things. They could only do so for another ten minutes before Brighton scored again; this time from a corner which was taken short and a pretty much unstoppable scissor kick at the near post put Brighton two up.

Horsham replied with Cowan putting the ball in the net with a volley on the turn after a chip over the top from Bigg but Cowan was ruled offside. Brighton soaked up the Horsham pressure, remaining strong at the back with some good tackling, especially on one occasion when their ‘keeper came a long way off his line to collect to the side but missed. The lads pushed hard with a good attack down the left with Nick Bristow cutting it back to Clarke whose driving run took him into the box and he crossed to Ali Kerr but his shot was just scrambled clear by the flailing hand of the Brighton ‘keeper.

The post again came to Brighton’s aid with a shot from Bristow after some lovely flicked passes and back heels. Brighton sat off with their midfield helping their defence but were quite deep, encouraging Horsham to push forward but the first half ended with the hosts two to the good.

H/T AFC Brighton & Hove 2 Horsham 0

Horsham began positively for the second half as Brighton again sat back with some legs looking like they were suffering after the exertions of the first half. Brighton were encouraged to look lively but a great strike from substitute Charlie Belton, not long after taking the field, brought Horsham hope in the 48th minute. Bristow breaking through on the right and cutting the ball back to Belton who shot high and into the far corner.

The game was opening up slightly but Horsham were managing to restrict Brighton to only the odd break and kept the play mainly in the Brighton half. Cowan and Kerr were battling in the midfield against some strong Brighton players and Clarke was dropping back to help. Bigg was having some success down the left and with 9 minutes left he put the ball past the defender, through his legs, but his shot was cleared off the line. Brighton came back, breaking down the right all the way into the box but Tom Summerfield put in a great sliding tackle, which was acknowledged by the Brighton coaches, to keep Horsham in it. Try as they might, Horsham couldn’t break through again and were punished by their slow start for the second week running to go out of the League Cup.