After a two week layoff due to postponements, Horsham U16s entertained early season pacesetters Cuckfield Cosmos.

The young Hornets started brightly and, as early as the 2nd minute, came so close to taking the lead when Sam Bulley's goalbound header was superbly saved by the Cuckfield 'keeper. From the resulting in-swinging corner, the home side failed to connect as the ball travelled through a group of players and missing the far post by inches.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 20 minutes after the home side's defence was cut open with a through ball which found the right winger through on goal. Goalkeeper Jamie Witham came off his line to cut down the angle but the winger found the far corner to the delight of his team mates.

With half an hour gone, Horsham brought on Josh Clack & George Hall to add more firepower and Clack immediately came close with two shots on target whilst, at the other end, Cuckfield almost doubled their lead when a shot took a wicked deflection & cannoned off the bar only to be cleared off the line by stand in captain Brandon Tiller.

At the start of the second half, Matthew Mayes was introduced into left back allowing Aidan Enticknapp to push further forward and Horsham slowly started to take a grip on the game. With Marcus Collier switching to the right wing, his close footwork started to create openings and it was one of his mazy runs which led to the equaliser. After dancing through two players, space opened up which allowed George Hall to receive the perfect pass to calmly drilled home from inside the area.

With their tails now up Horsham pressed in search of a second goal and, with 20 minutes remaining, finally their pressure paid off when Mayes & Entickknapp linked up well & Enticknapp cut inside from the left wing to surprise the 'keeper with a snap shot which the keeper could only help into the net.

The last ten minutes saw Cuckfield pressing forward but some determined defending, & a fine save by Witham at the death, allowed Horsham to pick up 3 hard earned points.