HORSHAM

Harry Smith

Jacob Waller

Ben Collier

Zak Comber

Subs

Tom Killner-Brown

Ollie Clarke

Jake Legrange

Goalscorers

HORSHAM 5 Rye United 2

Sunday 4th December 2011

Sussex Sunday Youth League

Horsham U16s entertained Rye United at Southwater Village Centre where the visitors got off to a great start, going ahead after just 2 minutes with a spectacular 25yard drive that beat 'keeper Lewis Blaney. Rye maintained the pressure but Horsham responded with Harry Smith and Harry Garman both going close with great efforts. Zac Comber then equalised after 16mins following a driving run by the lively Smith.

A tactical move on 22 minutes saw Jake Legrange and Tom Killner-Brown enter the game and it proved to be a shrewd substitution as, shortly afterwards, Killner-Brown immediately tested the keeper. Horsham began to settle and play some attractive football and it wasn't long before Stanley Rice gave Horsham their second with a blistering solo run down the left wing, ending with a nicely placed shot past the talented Rye 'keeper.

Horsham increased their lead on 33 minutes after Alex Parsons collected the ball in a wide right position and exquisitely chipped over the advancing 'keeper to give Horsham a 3-1 lead at half-time.

H/T: Horsham 3 Rye United 1

Rye united came out strong in the second half but the Horsham defence of Greig Gander, Anthony Jupp, Ben Collier and Jacob Waller did well to withstand a lot of pressure. However, Rye managed to pulled one back from a corner on 53 minutes. A fine save by Blaney, shortly after, prevented the visitors from drawing level and spurred the Horsham side on with a period of superb play seeing several interchanges between Connor Cushing, Parsons, Ollie Clarke and Rice.

Horsham dominated the final third of the game with fine efforts from Rice and Comber coming close. On 70 minutes an effervescent Smith collected the ball near halfway and drove forward before launching a spectacular shot from long range. He followed this only a minute later after slotting into the corner of the net to give Horsham their fifth. Smith completed a fine performance with a jinking run that saw him nutmeg one defender and skip around another before squaring the ball to Collier who was unlucky to see his drive hammer the post.