Horsham 1 v Tonbridge Angels 0
Saturday 4th March 2006
Ryman League Division One

Tom Graves emerged as the unlikely match winner as Horsham earned a crucial victory over promotion rivals Tonbridge Angels in front of their second highest gate of the season. The former Worthing man has suffered more than his share of criticism this season so it was fitting that he should be rewarded for a competent display by getting on the end of Lee Carney's eighty-sixth minute cross to direct his header into the corner of the net to send the Hornets to within two points of leaders Ramsgate.

Tonbridge are looking to make an immediate return to the Premier Division, from where they were relegated last season, and were looking favourites for an automatic promotion spot before running into a poor run of form that had seen them record just one victory in the six matches prior to this meeting. Horsham themselves had been in unconvincing form since the turn of the year so, although this may may not have been a 'must win' match, it was certainly one that neither team could afford to lose.

The Hornets were boosted by the return of striker Carl Rook, after a three match suspension, and Nigel Brake was given the left-back role in place of Ian Payne after making a goalscoring return to action during the midweek defeat at Cray Wanderers. Tonbridge included midfielder Steve Sodje, on loan from Premier Division Hampton & Richmond Borough, in the starting line-up while Wade Falana was on the bench for his first return to the Atspeed Stadium since scoring in Bromley's play-off final victory the previous May.

The players took to the field in a colourful scene of yellow, green and blue and a good number of fans who had made the journey from Kent helped provide a good atmosphere with the Lardy Boys also in good voice. An early chance came the way of the home side when John Westcott's seventh minute cross was headed out to Carl Rook. The former Dover Athletic striker fired in a shot that fell invitingly for Jamie Taylor but Angels' 'keeper Jerome John produced two close range saves from the Hornets' leading scorer although Taylor's frustration was tempered by the raising of the linesman's offside flag. Horsham had a narrow escape, five minutes later, when Brake was slow to get in a challenge on Sodje allowing the powerful number seven to race towards goal and, when his overhit cross was returned to the back post, Sodje's goalbound header was blocked by Eddie French. The visitors came even closer, moments later, when Fraser Logan's deep cross was met by Jay May whose effort was headed off the line by Andy Howard.

Logan was seeing a lot of the ball down the Tonbridge left and his tantalising cross had Rob Frankland in no man's land but the stretching May was unable to make contact with the ball as the visitors enjoyed some good early pressure. There were angry scenes on the Tonbridge bench when French's rash challenge on Jon Main left the striker in a heap on the touchline, earning the Horsham skipper a booking. Gary Charman showed good pace when he collected a pass from Mark Hawthorne and went past Ray Powell but his left foot shot produced a comfortable save from John. Tonbridge almost took the lead from a counter-attack when May quickly released Danny Glozier, after a Horsham corner routine broke down, but the full-back's instant cross was headed over by Sodje from six yards. The visitors kept up the pressure and Frankland had to be alert to produce a double save to deny Logan after Nick Barnes' clever touch had put his team-mate in behind the Horsham defence. Taylor's persistence almost saw Steve Aris put through his own goal as the home side looked for an opening and Charman's right foot shot was deflected behind by Rook. Rook nearly made amends in the next attack when he flicked on Westcott's cross but Charman, stretching his neck muscles, couldn't get the direction right and his header flew over the crossbar.

Slack work from the Horsham defence allowed the unmarked Logan to skip past Frankland and square the ball towards Sodje but Brake was on hand to hack clear from almost on the goal line as the first half continued to ebb and flow. John pulled off a spectacular save to deny Charman after the Horsham man got on the end of Graves' high ball into the box and the same player was rueing his luck when, from the resulting corner, his left foot volley cannoned away to safety off the crossbar. Amazingly, the visitors were to suffer the same fate, just before the break, when Danny Lye rose above Graves to send a header crashing against the frame of the goal. As the ball was cleared, Horsham broke quickly and Westcott picked out Carney's perfectly timed run into the Tonbridge penalty area but, after skipping round two defenders, the midfielder dragged his shot inches wide of the far post and an entertaining first half ended goalless.

Tonbridge almost caught out a sleeping Horsham back line, just three minutes after the interval, when a free-kick from the halfway line saw Logan in behind the defence but his chip not only beat the exposed Frankland but also the crossbar. A free-kick from Westcott created problems in the visitors' defence and, when the ball broke free, Howard screwed his volley wide of the target. May's clever dummy on the edge of the Horsham penalty area allowed Sodje to cut inside and hit an angled drive that took a wicked deflection off May and Frankland reacted sharply to produce an instinctive save. Frankland then had to punch clear a corner and Charman prevented Lye from reproducing Omar Pouso's spectacular midweek strike for Uruguay against England as he headed the Tonbridge man's volley off the line. Tonbridge were controlling much of the second half without providing the vital cutting edge and manager Tony Dolby decided to introduce himself into the game, replacing May, with twenty-five minutes remaining. Barnes' twenty-five yard shot was acrobatically turned behind by Frankland as the home side struggled to get hold of the ball.

A rare Horsham break saw Westcott's cross nodded down by Charman to Taylor but Barnes was able to hack clear and then Carney's long throw was missed by Graves only for Taylor to try a spectacular overhead kick that lacked the power to beat John.

Frankland's poor throw put his side in trouble with quarter of an hour to go, the ball landing short of Brake and allowing Main to race into the penalty box but his attempted pass was poor and the relieved Frankland was able to gather the ball. A minute later, it seemed as if the occasion was getting too much for some of the players as a series of wild challenges ended in referee Lennard struggling to take control and he infuriated the home side by awarding a free-kick to the opposition after Taylor had been fouled. Rook became the second Horsham player to be booked, shortly after, when his attempt to win the ball left a defender on the floor as the match entered a brief, scrappy stage.

With ten minutes to go, Dolby's neat lay-off to Powell led to Graves slicing the full-back's intended forward pass sending the ball into the space between Howard and Frankland and, while the young defender waited for his 'keeper to advance from his line, Sodje nipped into fire a shot that was blocked and Main almost took advantage of the confusion but his firm strike whistled narrowly wide of the post. Charman had to receive treatment when attempting to block a piledriver from Dolby and the game seemed destined to finish goalless. Fortunately for Horsham, Carney had other ideas and his measured cross from the left touchline found Graves in an advanced position to escape the attentions of two defenders and plant a perfectly executed header low into the far corner of John's goal. The goal was probably harsh on the visiting side who had had much the better of the second half but, by their own admission, suffered from being unable to convert any of their chances in front of goal. As the game entered it's final moments, Charman volleyed over the crossbar and Rook hit his shot wide as John Maggs' side held on for three precious points made even more valuable with the news that leaders Ramsgate had lost at home to Croydon Athletic, third placed Tooting & Mitcham had been held to a draw by lowly Banstead Athletic and Kingstonian had been beaten 3-1 by Horsham's next opponents, Fleet Town.

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

Tonbridge Angels: 1.Jerome John 2.Ray Powell 3.Danny Glozier 4.Jon Main (Huggins) 5.Steve Aris 6.John Beales 7.Steve Sodje (Falana) 8.Danny Lye 9.Fraser Logan 10.Nick Barney 11.Jay May (Dolby) Subs: 12.Tony Dolby 14.Darren Smith 15.Leroy Huggins 16.Danny Ward 17.Wade Falana

Goalscorers

Horsham: Graves (86)

Att: 522