Whyteleafe 1 v Horsham 1
Friday 14th April 2006
Ryman League Division One

Reporter: Mark Wells

Horsham drew level with Ramsgate at the top of the table after a below par performance that bore little resemblance to their scintillating midweek display. Struggling on a grassless, sandy pitch, the visitors constructed few moves of the quality that had seen them score four goals against Fleet Town as the ball frequently bobbled on the inconsistent surface, making control difficult. Only Mark Hawthorne and Lee Carney seemed to get to grips with the conditions and their performances in the Horsham midfield were the driving force behind a second half comeback that, with a little more luck, might have yielded all three points.

The decision to bring this fixture forward to Good Friday looked to have backfired after prolonged rain threatened to put the match in doubt and, had the pitch been one of lush grass, that may well have been the case. Perhaps it was a blessing, then, that the copious amounts of sand that made up three-quarters of the playing surface helped drain the pitch to the extent that there was little or no surface water visible and the Horsham followers, among Whyteleafe’s biggest crowd of the season, waited expectantly to see if their side could take a further step towards automatic promotion.

A quick inspection of the matchday programme suggested wholesale changes to the visitors’ line-up after a printing error listed ‘Leafe’s opponents as Leatherhead, rather than Horsham, but, after the initial confusion, it was clear that John Maggs had opted to go with the same line-up that began Tuesday’s match with John Westcott consigned to the bench once again. By contrast, Whyteleafe had an experimental line-up, handing debuts to David Baker and Daniel Hornsby while Oliver Barrett made his first start in the green and white shirt.

With arguably two of the division’s best goalkeepers in opposition, this game was unlikely to herald a glut of goals and it was surprise when Rob Frankland uncharacteristically fumbled a high ball from Ellis Conroy after just five minutes. Mark Tompkins spared the Horsham keeper’s blushes by firing the loose ball over the top. The Hornets’ first meaningful threat on goal came from a free-kick from Nigel Brake that was headed goalwards by Carl Rook, forcing a good, low save from Frankland’s opposite number, James Wastell. Dean Davenport’s fortuitous free-kick earned his side a corner after the defender’s mishit cross was helped into his own penalty box by Carney’s outstretched boot but Eddie French came to his side’s rescue to put the ball behind. A rare move of quality from either side came just before the half hour when Conroy sent Hornsby away down the right flank and, when Frankland could only push the ball out to Richard Williams, the ‘keeper redeemed himself with a brave block at the midfielder’s feet. Williams’ frustrations were doubled when Ian Payne cleared his header off the line from the resulting corner.

Horsham’s first corner came a minute later with Hawthorne’s cross falling nicely for Gary Charman to hit a first time volley that was blocked by a defender. The visitors were to threaten Wastell’s goal again, five minutes later, when Rook spread the ball intelligently out to Brake and the winger’s cross was met at the near post by Jamie Taylor whose neat flick was deflected behind. They had the ball in the back of the net, seven minutes before the break, when Rook converted Carney’s through ball but the striker saw his effort ruled out for offside for the second time in the space of four days. The visitors’ own offside trap was undone when a Whyteleafe free-kick found the Hornets defence stepping up, leaving Williams in the clear. Fortunately for Horsham, Brake was alert to the danger and the ball was cleared. Brake proved his versatility when popping up in the ‘Leafe half shortly after when Taylor flicked on to Carney and the midfielder’s cute lob put the winger in the clear but he overran the ball slightly and could only put his shot into the side netting.

The deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time after a Horsham attack broke down, deep inside their opponents’ half. A quick ball from Tony Martin released Conroy down the right and, although his run to the bye-line was checked by Andy Howard, the former Dulwich man made no mistake when presented with a second chance, picking out Tompkins to head powerfully home despite the efforts of Charman on the goal-line. It was a frustrating end to a frustrating half for John Maggs’ side who had bitter memories of last season’s 1-0 defeat at Church Road that put a dent in their promotion aspirations.

Half-time brought a tactical change from the Hornets’ boss with Matt Geard replacing Tom Graves, with Payne moving to right-back and Geard was immediately given a rude welcome as Conroy collected a booking for a late challenge on the substitute that prompted an angry reaction from Brake. French had a shot blocked, after Brake and Rook had helped on Howard’s free-kick, but Whyteleafe’s frequent use of the long ball was keeping the Horsham defence on their toes with Hornsby putting in an energetic display up front. Tompkins was almost in for his second goal after Frankland misread a long punt downfield from Wastell but the striker couldn’t guide the ball home from the narrowest of angles.

The visitors, although still underperforming with Charman particularly ineffective, were beginning to find a few openings in the home defence and Payne’s searching ball found Brake charging in at the far post but his stretching volley lacked the power to beat Wastell. The Hornets’ cause was helped when Hornsby was led limping from the pitch, to be replaced by Billy Harding, but Geard’s dallying saw him dispossessed by Chris Head who saw his left foot shot sail narrowly over the crossbar.

Horsham levelled the scores on sixty-five minutes through a patient build up. Charman’s determination won the ball on the edge of the box before Taylor moved the ball out wide to Carney. A neat interchange between Hawthorne and Payne saw the former pick out Taylor’s intelligent run on the right edge of the penalty area and the little striker’s driven cross was turned in at the near post, apparently clipping Carney’s heels on the way into the net. Spurred on by the goal, the Hornets won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area but Carney sent his shot crashing into the hoardings beside the goal.

Another huge clearance from Wastell fell to Williams who tried a twenty yard shot that brought a good save from Frankland, the ball bobbling dangerously in front of the Horsham ‘keeper. Head should have restored the hosts’ lead when he headed Williams’ corner wide and, before the game could be restarted, Maggs sent on John Westcott for Charman and the former Eastbourne Borough player made an immediate contribution, sending over a telling cross that was headed against the crossbar by Geard and the fans held their heads in their hands as Rook could only head the rebound over the top. Westcott was just as effective for the home side when his poor backpass was collected by Tompkins but the ‘Leafe man got his angles wrong and curled his shot away from the far post.

Horsham had the ball in the net for a third time but, as with the first, an offside decision cut short the celebrations. Brake played a measured pass in behind the home defence for Taylor to calmly slot home but he had strayed fractionally beyond the last defender. Wastell’s outstretched fingertips prevented Rook from getting on the end of another Westcott cross but Horsham were unable to conjure up one of their trademark late goals and had to settle for a point with all eyes now on the Easter efforts of Tonbridge and Ramsgate.

Whyteleafe: 1.James Wastell 2.David Baker 3.Chris Head 4.Dean Davenport 5.Oliver Barrett 6.Richard Williams 7.Peter Wood 8.Ellis Conroy 9.Daniel Hornsby (Harding) 10.Mark Tompkins 11.Tony Martin Subs: 12.Lewis Taylor 14.Billy Harding 15.Craig Price 16.James Parker 17.Auston Gacheru

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

Goalscorers

Whyteleafe: Tompkins (45)

Horsham: Carney (65)
 

Att: 336