Bromley 0 v Horsham 3
Tuesday 28th November 2006
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham assumed leadership of the Ryman Premier Division for the first time in their history with a superb win over early season pace setters, Bromley. In what must surely rank as one of the club’s finest results in John Maggs’ seven year reign, the Hornets fully merited their win against a side that had previously lost just once in the league, conceding just nine goals in their thirteen matches, and had enjoyed an FA Cup first round visit to Gillingham just over a fortnight ago.

The travelling fans among the impressive midweek attendance of 499 were keen to see how their side would respond after a frustrating few days that had seen them slip and slide to a controversial defeat in the rain against Hampton & Richmond Borough at the weekend, losing striker Carl Rook to a disputed sending-off and seeing their leading scorer the subject of an approach by Woking. But, with Jamie Taylor’s name firmly on the team sheet for this top of the table clash, the fans could afford to dream that their players might avenge the play-off final defeat meted out by the Ravens in 2005 that put their Premier Division aspirations temporarily on hold.

Heavy rain during the preceding 24 hours had put this game in doubt but the Hayes Lane pitch, newly laid during the close season, was in perfect condition as referee Butler got the game underway. Both sides began cautiously, showing an obvious respect for each other, but Taylor almost got the visitors off to the ideal start after just three minutes, his shot deflecting away for a corner from Nigel Brake’s low cross. From the dead ball, Eddie French’s flicked header found Jacob Mingle on the edge of the area but his volley went just wide of goal. Bromley had a chance of their own, soon after, but Gareth Williams’ free-kick was deflected behind after Kevin Hemsley was adjudged to have fouled former Lewes man Kirk Watts. Horsham took control for the next quarter of an hour, the excellent playing surface providing the perfect platform for their slick passing, and they carved out several opportunities to open the scoring. Gary Charman was enjoying himself on the left, giving Mark Corneille a torrid time, and home goalkeeper Andy Walker did well to claim a dangerous cross from the player making his 354th appearance in Horsham’s colours. The visitors’ cause was helped by Bromley’s frequently misplaced passes although dogged defence from French, Hemsley, Brake and Stuart Myall succeeded in nullifying the home side’s attacking threat and Alan Mansfield enjoyed a comfortable opening forty-five minutes.

Lewis Taylor showed no ill-effects of the injury that had kept him out of Saturday’s match as he and Mingle bossed the midfield with their tireless energy. The Hornets’ recent injury list, that had threatened to disrupt their excellent start to the season, looked to have the name of Nigel Brake added to it when he pulled up sharply but he was able to continue thanks to the healing hands of physio Geoff Brittain. The hosts created a half chance when Sam Wood’s excellent ball into the box just eluded Nic McDonnell at the far post as the Hornets’ defence was caught flat-footed for the first time in the match. Charman came within a whisker of producing a Goal of the Season contender when Westcott’s cross found him lurking at the far post but his fierce volley flew past the post by the narrowest of margins, earning warm applause from both sets of supporters. The visitors’ positive approach gained its reward after thirty-six minutes when Charman again got goal side of Corneille and put a perfect cross into the penalty area where Rook’s outstretched leg applied the finishing touch to give his side a deserved lead.

Horsham were determined not to relinquish their advantage but, rather than sit back, they continued their attacking policy and Lewis Taylor almost doubled the score when his stunning long range shot cleared the crossbar, scattering the fans behind Walker’s goal. The visitors continued on the offensive until the break with Ravens’ skipper Francis Duku heading Taylor’s chip away from the dangerous Charman and Walker saving at full stretch from the same player. Rook called the ‘keeper into one final save when he got on the end of Brake’s cross to bring a halt to a highly satisfactory, and impressive, half from Maggs’ side.

Bromley boss Mark Goldberg, one-time supremo at Crystal Palace, introduced new blood during the interval, replacing Duku and the ineffective Lloyd Blackman with Nathan Simpson and Simon Osborn and the change seemed to have an immediate effect as the hosts dictated the initial stages of the second half. Simpson settled into the left-back slot, allowing Wood to move forward and his dangerous cross swung across the Horsham goalmouth with no-one able to get a telling touch as Mansfield, virtually redundant during the opening period, suddenly became the centre of attention. The Hornets responded with a couple of efforts through Mingle and Lewis Taylor, both shots drifting wide of the target, before McDonnell spurned what was to prove the home side’s best chance of the night. Stealing in behind Myall, Bromley’s leading scorer was forced wide by Mansfield and could only find the side netting to give the visitors a huge let-off. Bromley looked to turn the screw but were frequently let down by the final ball as Mansfield showed impeccable handling in the greasy conditions claiming a number of overhit crosses. Myall responded to the home fans’ taunts by producing two vital interceptions to relieve the pressure on the overworked defence and Corneille wasted good openings by hitting crosses out of play. Corneille appeared to pull Charman’s shirt inside the Bromley penalty area, giving the visitors a strong claim for a spot-kick, and Charman was booked for his protests as Mr Butler waved away the appeals. Walker saved well from Jamie Taylor, who had got himself on the end of Mansfield’s long clearance, and the Horsham ‘keeper was able to smother the ball after McDonell’s poor control had let him down at the other end. Goldberg made his final substitution with twenty minutes remaining but the introduction of Tony Boot for Williams seemed only to spur the Hornets on and they regained their supremacy with a final flurry that took them through to the end of the game, adding two more goals for good measure. Bromley seemed to have realised that their all-out attempts to grab an equaliser were doomed to failure and the visitors took control with Westcott seeing plenty of the ball, taking on his marker at every opportunity. The outstanding Donal O’Sullivan had to clear Westcott’s dangerous cross but the central defender, who had kept Jamie Taylor quiet for most of the game, could only look on as a through ball brushed a team-mate’s head to put the prolific marksman in on goal but he hit his shot wide. Mingle, too, was off target after Rook’s lay-off had presented him with a shooting opportunity and, a minute later, Charman curled another effort just past the upright as Horsham threatened to put the game beyond the Ravens’ reach. Their ambitions were met in the eight-first minute when Lewis Taylor began and ended another good move by slipping the ball past Walker to send the Lardies into musical overdrive with their own inimitable renditions of popular 1980s hits. With the home side clearly dispirited, Horsham continued to press and another fine cross from Westcott just evaded the incoming Charman whilst, at the other end, Mansfield capped an assured display by saving well from Barry Moore. The proverbial icing on the cake came with three minutes remaining when Brake won the ball on the left and powered his way into the Bromley area to force in a cross and, with Bromley defenders waiting for each other to clear the danger, Westcott stooped low to expertly guide a header into the back of the net to crown a superb display. The referee played seven minutes of injury time during which the only pressure from the hosts came in the form of an angry group of supporters who rounded on the dug-outs to vent their anger towards what they saw as excessive celebrations from the Horsham bench although they were quickly dispersed by a number of stewards as Jamie Taylor rounded off the evening by producing a good save from Walker.

With a number of suspensions looming, it is vital that Horsham get as many points under their belt as possible but this performance will give them great confidence ahead of similarly testing matches against AFC Wimbledon, Margate and Tonbridge Angels in the coming weeks as they now become the team to beat.

Bromley: 1.Andy Walker 2.Mark Corneille 3.Sam Wood 4.Donal O'Sullivan 5.Tutu Henriques 6.Francis Duku (Simpson) 7.Gareth Williams (Boot) 8.Barry Moore 9.Lloyd Blackman (Osborn) 10.Nic McDonnell 11.Kirk Watts Substitutes:12.Tony Boot 14.Bobby Bowry 15.Simpson 16.Simon Osborn 17.Jerrome Sobers

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Stuart Myall 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Jacob Mingle 7.Lewis Taylor 8.John Westcott 9.Jamie Taylor 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Substitutes: 12.Matt Geard 14.Tom Graves 15.Jose Goncalves 17.Rob Frankland

Goalscorers:

Horsham - Rook (36), L.Taylor (80), Westcott (87)

Attendance: 499