HORSHAM

Finn Bigg

Nick Bristow

Alfie Carter

Liam Clarke

Hugo Cowan

Dan Cusdin

Alex Kerr

Louis Lewis

Joe Moss

Lewis Reeves

Jack Reeves

Eddie Simpkin

Goalscorers

HORSHAM 3 SPARTAN FC 3

Sunday 29th January 2012

Sussex Sunday Youth League

Horsham were severely punished for individual mistakes which comprised all three of the visitors'' efforts on target when they surrendered the lead 3 times to share the points in this top of the table clash.

Nick Bristow saw an early chance go narrowly wide when his cross flew just high and wide over the top corner. Horsham then had the ball in the net in the 9th minute through Finn Bigg but it was disallowed for holding back the defender. Spartan bounced back and Horsham were saved by the quick thinking of Louis Lewis who defended the Horsham goal-line by heading clear after the Spartan forward had rounded Joe Moss in goal.

Liam Clarke and Bigg were working well up front and the midfield of Ali Kerr and Hugo Cowan trying to keep their feet and battling hard in the mud. Bristow then shaved the post after strong tackling in the box from Clarke, winning the ball and finding Bristow in space but he failed to capitalise. However, it wasn't long before Horsham had the lead through Bigg, coming from a throw-in, deep in the Horsham half by Dan Cusdin to Kerr and his through ball allowed Bigg to chase. With the Spartan 'keeper hesitating to come out for the ball, Bigg cleverly lobbed him with a deft flick with the outside of his right foot as he finally made his decision to come off his line, for a superbly taken goal.

Kerr and Cowan were working hard in the middle of the park and, with Kerr picking up momentum, he set off on one of his runs, cutting through the field into the box and squared the ball to Clarke who found Charlie Belton. Belton curled one but the 'keeper dived high and pawed it round the post for a great save. Twenty-four minutes in and Horsham were made to pay for trying to dribble the ball out of defence as Spartan levelled with a firm drive into the corner. With no further chances at either end, the first half came to a close at 1-1.

H/T Horsham 1 Spartan FC 1

Horsham brought their 3 pairs of fresh legs on at the start of the second half and Jack Reeves made a quick impact with a nice through ball to Clarke but the Spartan stopper dived low to save. Bigg followed this with two close efforts, one over and one just wide of the goal. The game had been even so far but with most goalscoring opportunities falling to Horsham, they just needed to be put away. Clarke obliged on 54 minutes, after a poor goal-kick was pounced upon and Bigg picked out Clarke who calmly finished from close range.

Spartan kicked off and countered but good defending again from Lewis blocked their shot. However, a free-kick was given for a push and Spartan equalised with a header from the set-piece to undo Horsham's previous efforts. The lads picked themselves up and Clarke returned the lead to Horsham with 6 minutes plus stoppage time left. The game needed closing down but a long ball over the top of Horsham's defence was latched on to by the Spartan winger and he lofted it high across goal and Moss' punch was not enough to clear the ball which deflected into the net.

This closed a frustrating match level at 3-3 and demonstrated how severely mistakes can be punished in this league but at least Horsham retain their 3 point lead at the top of the table.