Horsham 2 v Kingstonian 2
Saturday 18th March 2006
Ryman League Division One

Reporter: Mark Wells

Dominik Hudak's first league goal in more than six months rescued an unlikely point for Horsham after sixth placed Kingstonian had raced into a seemingly unassailable two goal lead with just eleven minutes remaining. Hudak was sent on as a replacement for Jamie Taylor, with just a quarter of an hour left to play, and his pass enabled Nigel Brake to half the deficit before the big Slovak got on the end of Tom Graves' cross to head home a crucial equaliser to send the home supporters into raptures.

The first league meeting of the two sides in more than twenty-six years promised to be an entertaining encounter and, with the visitors suffering just two league defeats on their travels this season, the Hornets were going to have to show all the qualities they displayed during their midweek cup triumph over Nationwide Conference Crawley Town if they were to maintain their grip on the final automatic promotion spot. Sadly, the match was ruined as a spectacle by the strong winds that turned the first half in to a scrappy affair that saw just one decent attempt on goal.

Horsham were at full strength, with the doubts over Gary Charman and Mark Hawthorne's fitness following the Crawley match proving unfounded, although there remained a question mark over Lee Carney who had been nursing a groin injury for a number of weeks. Kingstonian, without the suspended Michael Brady and Martyn Lee, were also hit by the non-appearance of midfielder Mazin Ahmad as they went in search of the three points that would further cement their own play-off hopes.

The K's began by attacking down the Queen Street slope, hoping to take advantage of the strong wind blowing behind them, but it was the hosts that should have opened the scoring after just twelve minutes when Taylor's lay-off to Carney saw the midfielder sweep the ball across the face of the visitors' goal only for Carl Rook to blaze wastefully over the crossbar from six yards. Kingstonian hit back, four minutes later, when Bashiru Alimi's free-kick was headed over by James Rose and they came even closer to breaking the deadlock when Andy Howard conceded a free-kick some twenty-five yards from goal and leading scorer Kenny Ojukwa, intriguingly playing in the number two shirt, curled a free-kick towards the top corner of the net only for Rob Frankland to spectacularly tip the ball behind. The Surrey club then had a shout for a penalty when Rose flicked on a long thrown-in at the near post, hitting Howard. Fortunately for Horsham, experienced referee Andy Legg was on the spot and waved play on, indicating that the ball had hit the defender's chest. Alimi was cautioned on the half hour for protesting too strongly to Mr Legg for the non award of a free-kick after Rook had stumbled in to him as play entered a scrappy spell. Although the K's midfield were enjoying most of the possession, it was Horsham who created the next opportunity when Charman fed Taylor but, with Rook well placed alongside, Horsham's leading scorer rushed his effort, sending a long range shot well wide of Alan Hughes' goal. The half ended in spectacular style when, from a corner, Charman pounced on the loose ball to send a terrific half-volley towards the far corner of the net but Hughes, possibly unsighted with a number of bodies in front of him, produced a fabulous save to turn the ball away.

The second half began with the Hornets on the offensive and, when another Westcott corner was nodded down by Charman, Howard swung a boot at the ball sending it inches away from the heads of Graves and Rook before going narrowly past the far upright. Taylor's flick then sent Westcott away but his lay-off was cleared by a defender's outstretched boot and Hawthorne was booked for a foul on Scott Corbett as he battled to gain possession of the loose ball. Kingstonian took the lead on the hour when Ojukwa's measured cross found Rose stealing in in front of Frankland to loop a header into the roof of the net to the delight of the sizeable travelling contingent. Horsham almost hit back within two minutes when Howard's searching pass reached Charman on the left flank. The winger nodded the ball past his marker and lobbed it over Hughes but the pass was slightly overhit and Taylor could only put his shot into the side netting. Carney's cross was then dropped by Hughes but there was no-one in a yellow shirt to take advantage of the 'keeper's mistake and the home side were grateful to Howard for deflecting Alimi's shot wide after slick approach play involving Rose and Tony Reid. Ojukwa fired in a shot straight at Frankland as the visitors looked to increase their lead.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Taylor latched on to a long ball down the line and sent over a great cross but Carney could only direct his header over the top of goal before Hornets' boss John Maggs decided to add some extra height to his attack by sending on Hudak. Taylor was clearly disappointed by the decision, removing his shirt before storming disconsolately into the dressing room. Taylor wasn't alone in his frustrations as Legg was forced to deliver a stern lecture to Horsham coach Tommy Warrilow for a typical touchline outburst. Alimi should have scored when he appeared unmarked inside the Hornets' penalty area but his bobbling shot rebounded to safety off of Frankland's near post. The former Millwall player had less than two minutes to wait before being rewarded for a good display in the K's midfield when his thirty yard shot deceived Frankland who could only help it on its way into the net. In a final throw of the dice, Maggs sent on Geard in place of Westcott and the decision reaped immediate dividends when Hudak collected a through ball and slipped a pass across the face of Hughes' goal. Brake arrived at the far post to send a left foot shot curling towards the goal where it appeared to be cleared from the goal line by Julian Sills. Amazingly, Mr Legg awarded the goal, to the obvious fury of the Kingstonian players as the supporters prepared for a grandstand finish. Horsham's fightback looked to be dashed when Carney's groin was clearly giving him problems, leading to the introduction of Payne, but, incredibly, the equaliser came with four minutes remaining. Payne's deep cross was turned back at the far post by Wednesday's goalscoring hero, Graves, and Hudak was on hand to convert Charman's flick for his first goal since September. The transformation in the Horsham players' body language was astonishing. Ten minutes earlier, they looked a beaten side with their heads bowed, resigned to defeat. Yet the equaliser had them confident of grabbing an unlikely winner that, ultimately, their over-enthusiastic approach denied them and the final moments degenerated into a niggly passage of play. Rook was scythed down by a poor challenge from Jon Coke and the home fans feared their centre-forward would be dismissed when he angrily pulled the K's full-back off the floor in protest at the challenge that led to a caution for both players. Rose and Charman kept Mr Legg busy in injury time as the match ended with Sills wagging an angry finger towards the referee over Horsham's controversial goal.

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

Kingstonian: 1.Alan Hughes 2.Kenny Ojukwa 3.Jon Coke 4.Scott Corbett 5.Julian Sills 6.Richard Taylor 7.Paul Wetherall 8.Bahiru Alimi 9.James Rose 10.Charles Side 11.Tony Reid Subs: 12.Steve Symes 14.Stuart Booth 15.Mark Jarman 16.Stuart McIntyre 17.Jonty Ventor

Goalscorers

Horsham: Brake (81), Hudak (86)

Kingstonian: Rose (61), Alimi (79)
 

Att: 502