Cray Wanderers 2 v Horsham 1
Tuesday 28th February 2006
Ryman League Division One

report by Jim Bravery

Horsham fell to a first ever defeat against Cray Wanderers on a freezing night at Hayes Lane. Last season’s meetings between the two sides produced entertaining spectacles for the fans and this was to be no exception but, although the visitors will point to a disallowed goal, the denial of an apparently clearcut penalty and a shot against the crossbar, few would deny that the home side were worthy winners on the night.

While Cray were eking out a well earned point at Horsham’s promotion rivals Kingstonian at the weekend, John Maggs’ players were enjoying a weekend off but the break seemed to have a detrimental effect as they were frequently overrun during the first half and only the awareness of Rob Frankland in the Hornets’ goal prevented the hosts from inflicting a more comprehensive defeat on their high-flying opponents.

With Carl Rook completing the last of his three match ban, Maggs continued with Gary Charman alongside Jamie Taylor up front with Nigel Brake given a rare start on the left. Cray’s own front line of Jamie Kempster, James Taylor and Gary Abbott carried a threat of their own and the visitors’ defensive quartet of Tom Graves, Eddie French, Andy Howard and Ian Payne would have to be at their best against the side that had finished as top scorers in their inaugural season in the Isthmian League.


It was the prolific Abbott who had the first chance after just three minutes when he seized upon a poor clearance from Frankland only to see Graves scamper back to clear his scuffed shot. The in-form Leigh Bremner, scorer of five goals in his last three matches, warmed Frankland’s hands with a well struck shot before the visitors were denied an opening goal after eleven minutes. Matt Lee’s over-zealous challenge on Lee Carney earned the midfielder a booking from referee Ross and, when the resulting free-kick was cleared only as far as John Westcott, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man advanced to the edge of the penalty area and sent over an inviting cross that was converted by Charman. But, before the celebrations could get underway, the linesman’s flag was raised to indicate a foul on Cray ‘keeper Steve Northwood. To rub salt into the wound, Horsham found themselves behind just three minutes later. Receiving a pass from James Taylor, Jamie Wood got away from Payne down the Cray right and cut the ball back inside to David Hall who opened his account for the season, firing a low shot across Frankland into the far corner of the net.

Mark Hawthorne had a chance to level the scores almost immediately after the restart when Brake's inviting pass saw the busy midfielder shoot disappointingly wide of the target. However, Cray hit back and enjoyed a good spell of pressure that kept the Horsham rearguard busy. Abbott tried a back header at the near post that just cleared the crossbar and James Taylor's effort was also headed wide. Graves' underhit backpass caused Frankland to sprint from his line to clear from the threatening Bremner while, in a rare attack at the other end, Northwood saved well at Graves' feet from Westcott's free-kick. Having weathered the storm, the visitors fashioned an equaliser just before the half hour mark when Carney's perfect cross was headed past the flat footed Northwood by Brake for his first goal since early September. But, rather than galvanise the visiting side, the goal seemed to spur the hosts back into action and they created, and spurned, three good chances in quick succession. Taylor, Kempster and Wood were all wasteful in front of goal and Frankland was alert to smother a through ball aimed towards Abbott before taking the ball off Bremner's head as he chased a long ball over the top that had the static defence vainly appealing for offside. Horsham's Taylor hit a long hopeful shot wide of goal when a pass to Brake might have been the more profitable option and Kempster put a header into the side netting before the first half was brought to a close.

The Hornets began the second period by forcing an early corner but they were caught on the backfoot as the ball was cleared and, when Cray broke quickly upfield, Wood's ball into the penalty area saw Payne and French making vital interceptions and Abbott's pleas for a penalty were waved away after French's tackle had left him in a heap. A Horsham free-kick was put behind for a corner and Westcott's ball in found French with room in which to try a shot but Northwood was equal to it and another corner was conceded but, this time, Taylor's shot lacked direction and went harmlessly wide. In the space of a minute, Frankland again came to his side's rescue, saving from Abbott and then a close range effort from the lively Kempster.

Although Horsham were second best at this stage, the outcome of the match was influenced by a controversial refereeing decision on fifty-seven minutes when good build-up play involving Charman and Taylor moved the ball onto the unmarked Carney whose run into the penalty area was halted unceremoniously when his legs were taken from under him. Incredibly Mr Ross, who couldn't have been better placed to see the incident (and some might say mindful of the earlier penalty denial), waved away the penalty appeals and the danger was cleared.

A minute later and Payne had to tidy up after Frankland was left exposed by another through ball and Kempster's follow up went wide of the open goal. The game was as open as it possibly could be with play switching from end-to-end as both sides went in search of a winner. Carney breached the Cray backline and Taylor's first time effort went just wide of the post. At the other end, another Abbott effort was kept out by Andy Howard's backside and good follow up play down Cray's left saw Taylor trying a shot that went high over Frankland's crossbar. The Horsham defenders continued to fail dismally with their attempts to try to catch the Cray forwards offside and another through ball saw Frankland read the situation well to deny Abbott in a one-on-one.

This was the time for Maggs to make his first change of the evening, replacing Payne with Andy Walker and, within a minute of coming on, Walker sent Brake free down the left flank and the former Crawley Town man cut inside and hit a fine angled shot that crashed against the angle of crossbar and post only to come down at such a pace that the unmarked Charman could do no more than divert the rebound wide via his right boot with the goal at his mercy. A spell of Horsham pressure followed but Charman again found the Cray defence too good, his shot being blocked and cleared.

Cray introduced fresh legs in the form of Michael Power for Wood but before the substitute had even touched the ball, Taylor saw his well struck shot superbly palmed away by Northwood and Westcott could only blaze the loose ball over the top. This was to be Horsham's final chance of the evening as Cray dominated the closing stages. First it was Kempster who fired wide when he should have done better and then, after Walker had conceded a corner under pressure, a Bremner cross saw Frankland drop the ball before gathering it safely at the second attempt. Another wicked ball into the area from Power saw Graves having to head out for a corner. Bremner, who had been busy all evening, sent in a perfect ball to Abbott but the experienced front man completely messed up his attempt.

The pressure on the overworked Horsham defence finally gave way in the eighty-forth minute. Kempster, who had had several chances throughout the match, at last found himself totally unmarked in the six yard box and although his first effort was well saved by Frankland he made no mistake with the rebound, sending his header straight back past the overworked 'keeper into the back of the net. In a belated, last-ditch attempt to salvage something from the evening, Dominik Hudak was sent on for Brake but there was insufficient time for the big striker to make an impact and, with four minutes to go, Frankland had to save Power's free-kick before Cray controlled the closing moments to secure a deserved victory that moved them up to ninth place.

The match was played in a good spirit between two open attacking sides and although the result didn't go Horsham's way it was good entertainment for the few who attended. Amazingly other results favoured Horsham again to keep them in second place ahead of next Saturday's big clash with Tonbridge Angels.

Cray Wanderers: 1.Steve Northwood 2.David Hall 3. Ian Rawlings 4.Terry Khan 5.Dean Morris 6.Matt Lee 7.Jamie Wood (Power) 8.Jamie Kempster 9.Garry Abbott (Lovell) 10.Leigh Bremner 11.James Taylor Subs: 12.Michael Power 14.Matt Lovell 15.Drew Watkins 17.Junior Baker 18.Adam Young

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

Goalscorers

Cray Wanderers: Hall (13), Kempster (84)

Horsham: Brake (29)

Att: 117