Ashford Town (Kent) 0 v Horsham 7
Saturday 25th March 2006
Ryman League Division One

Reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham romped to an emphatic victory at the Homelands that saw them record their biggest away win in the league in almost eight years and give themselves a major confidence boost ahead of Saturday's top of the table clash with Ramsgate. An injury to Ashford's only available goalkeeper, Dave Wietecha, aided the Hornets' cause and might have given the scoreline a slightly flattering look but this was an excellent performance from John Maggs' side that full underlined their promotion credentials.
The scoreline looked unlikely at the start of play with Lee Carney's groin problems ruling the Horsham midfield playmaker out of contention and, with Ashford having signed three new players during the week, the home side's expectations were high that they could add to the point they picked up at Tooting & Mitcham the previous weekend as they sought to climb away from the relegation zone.
A healthy crowd assembled, despite the wet weather, and they saw the hosts begin the game with the advantage of a strong wind behind them while the Hornets took a while to settle into their rhythmn. But it was the visitors' Carl Rook who had the first shot of the game when his second minute strike went straight at Wietecha. Ashford made the most of the conditions, favouring the long ball out of defence towards the lively Kenny Jarrett-Elliott on the left wing, and Andy Howard was forced to head clear from a dangerous early cross. Ill fortune was to strike the lowly Kent club after just thirteen minutes when Wietecha attempted to claim a cross from Gary Charman and was hurt in a collision with Rook and a defender. With no reserve 'keeper on the bench, Wietecha manfully continued, despite being in obvious pain but, within four minutes, Howard heaped further misery on the unfortunate custodian when he powered home a header from Matt Geard's cross to give the visitors the lead.
Ashford tried to respond immediately but Rob Frankland was in commanding form as he punched away a corner under pressure from the Nuts and Bolts attack. Geard was assuming Carney's role as dead ball specialist and the visitors went close to doubling the lead when Tom Graves let a Geard free-kick run through his legs but the ball went harmlessly wide of the far post with no-one in a yellow shirt able to take advantage of the confusion. Joby Thorogood was unlucky to see his goalbound effort cannon away off Eddie French, after his trickery had taken him away from Howard and Nigel Brake, and the hosts threatened Frankland's goal with a couple of corners. But Horsham regained the upper hand and increased their lead during a sustained spell of pressure that saw Charman score his first of the afternoon, taking the ball round Jamie Smith before cutting inside the penalty area and slotting the ball home via a deflection. Geard's dangerous cross then looked to have set up an opening for Graves and Jamie Taylor but neither player was able to steer the ball home.
Horsham made it 3-0 after half an hour when Rook's tireless running won his side another free-kick from which Charman headed home John Westcott's flighted cross. Charman almost claimed his hat-trick shortly after when Mark Hawthorne's clever through ball sent the Horsham man racing clear but Wietecha was swiftly off his line to clear the danger. Horsham were well on top at this stage but, when Rook nodded down Westcott's free-kick, only desperate defending prevented Graves from adding a fourth goal before, a minute later, Wietecha was at full strength to save Charman's ambitious lob. A rare Ashford break was ended when Howard crudely felled Jarrett-Elliott but Richard Boorman wasted the free-kick, sending a powerful shot wide of goal. The former Arsenal youngster had the chance to redeem himself two minutes later but, again, his execution was poor allowing Frankland to make a comfortable save. Arguably the home side's best spell of the match ended when Danny Simmonds, recently signed from Eastbourne Borough, headed a left wing cross wide of the target before referee Venamore's whistle signalled the end of the first period and Wietecha's injury became clear to the spectators with the 'keeper suffering what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder. Yet, to everyone's surprise, the Ashford man retook his place on the field after some lengthy half-time treatment but the unsympathetic Horsham attack soon began peppering him with shots and Geard's strike from distance produced a fine save.
Boorman became the first player into Venamore's notebook when he spoke out of turn to the official - an ironic booking considering the robust challenges that had previously gone unpunished from both sides. The Kent side fell further behind ten minutes later when their fallibility at free-kicks surfaced once more as Graves headed home his third goal in six games. Clearly spotting the opportunity to improve their goal difference, the visitors continued to press and only Wietecha's bravery prevented Westcott from adding a fifth. However, the Ashford goalkeeper was clearly in distress and, after further treatment, he was led from the field to appreciative applause from the Horsham supporters. Without an established replacement, another of Ashford's new signings, Stuart Playford, made his bow in the unfamiliar role between the sticks and his lack of confidence was soon apparent when he rushed out to kick clear Hawthorne's free-kick rather than pick it up with his hands.
Ashford rallied briefly as they sought to reduce the arrears but the Horsham rearguard were in determined mood and assured handling display from Frankland in difficult circumstances helped the visitors to their third shut out in their last four league games. The closing stages belonged to the Hornets and they ran in three more goals as the Nuts and Bolts' beleaguered defence collapsed under the relentless pressure. Rook claimed the goal his performance deserved when he pounced on a fumble from Playford in the eighty-seventh minute and Charman completed his hat-trick a minute later after excellent work by Florian Mateos, on in place of Westcott. The unmarked Rook wasted the chance to grab his second of the game when Playford made a good stop, after more good work from the underrated Mateos, and the Frenchman settled things with seconds remaining after his good run saw his goalbound shot helped over the line by Barry Crawford.


Horsham: 1.Rob Frankland 2.Tom Graves 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Andy Howard 6.Mark Hawthorne 7.Andy Walker (Carney) 8.John Westcott (Payne) 9.Jamie Taylor 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Dominik Hudak 14.Florian Mateos 15.Ian Payne 16.Lee Carney 18.Gary Elliott

Ashford Town: 1.Dave Wietecha (Playford) 2.Jamie Smith 3.Ian Ross 4.Barry Crawford 5.Marc Cumberbatch 6.Richard Boorman 7.Joff Thorogood (Penfold) 8.Gary Clarke 9.Joby Thorogood 10.Danny Simmonds 11.Kenny Jarrett-Elliott Subs: 12.Stuart Playford 14.Terry Penfold 15.Dan Tanner 16.Danny Jones

Goalscorers

Horsham: Howard (17), Charman (26,30,88), Graves (68), Rook (87), Mateos (90)
 

Att: 241

HORSHAM 7 ASHFORD TOWN 0
With Horsham fans travelling all the way to Ashford on a wet, damp day, they expected a comfortable win. The Horsham players certainly did not disappoint. An early goal though must have helped settle the nerves of the players.
The goal arrived when Andy Howard just beat the goalkeeper to the ball to powerfully head in. After that goal, the game settled into a rhythm, with the Hornets dominating the possession. However a quagmire of a pitch did not encourage the Hornets usual fast flowing football. Midway through the first half Horsham made their domination count when Gary Charman fooled the keeper by pretending to cross but shooting instead. Already Horsham were 2-0 up without Ashford having a shot to really test Rob Frankland. Almost immediately after that the game was made safe when Charman produced one of the bullet headers he is renowned for.
At half time many supporters predicted 9-0 but even that by Horsham’s standards was a little ambitious. Tom Graves found the net after some frustrating early play in the second half, when he had all the time in the world to pick his spot as the marking was non–existent. Carl Rook scored the goal his performance deserved with a tap-in to end his goal drought. There was still enough time for time for Charman to complete his hat-trick and Mateos to score a fine solo goal to end a great afternoon despite the non stop rain!
report by Stuart McNulty, Junior HISC member