HORSHAM

Goalscorers

Hastings United 3 HORSHAM 2

Monday 1st November 2011

Ryman Youth League (South Division)

Pilot Field, Hastings

Attendance: 69

Horsham made a return to Hastings just 48 hours after the first team's 5-0 drubbing by the Arrows and, for a while, it looked like the youngsters would befall a similar fate as their senior counterparts having trailed 3-0 after little more than half an hour. But 2 late goals by Zac Comber helped restore a little pride for the visitors, even if they could have no complaints at the final outcome.

The Hornets handed debuts to Gavin Johnson and Justin Finn, with Harry Smith given his first outing with the U18s after impressing at U16 level. Hastings were looking to complete a 4th win in a row and almost took the lead early on when Aaron Parris' header hit the 'bar. The hosts found more success with Parris as the provider when, on 24 minutes, the midfielder's corner was flicked on for Scott Ellis to bundle the ball home from close range.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Ellis struck again, finishing off a pass from Nelson Whyman, and the striker continued to torment the visiting defence when he was brought down in the box to give Parris the opportunity of extending the lead from the penalty spot.

Horsham's attacking threat, as it had been 2 days earlier, was disappointingly minimal with home 'keeper Harry Stapley tested just the once in the opening 45 minutes. But the Hornets tightened up in the second half and the game, as a result, produced little incident of note until a goal-line clearance prevented an Ellis hat-trick late on.

With 7 minutes remaining, Hastings' failure to clear a Horsham free-kick saw Comber grab a consolation goal and the striker set up a tense finale when he claimed his 5th goal in 4 games for U18s when he collected a through ball and showed a cool head to beat the 'keeper. But it was too little, too late, for the visitors as Hastings hung on for the victory that took them up to 2nd place in the Ryman Youth League (Southern) section while Horsham's evening ended in further disappointment at the final whistle when Jonny Burfiend was dismissed for dissent.