Carshalton Athletic 1 v Horsham 3
Tuesday 12th September 2006
Westview League Cup second round

Reporter: Jim Bravery

Three goals in nine minutes earned Horsham their first win over Carshalton in ten attempts to ease in to the third round of the Westview League Cup. John Westcott and Carl Rook scored the goals that secured a sixth successive win for the Hornets that will send them into Saturday’s FA Cup tie with AFC Wimbledon brimming with confidence.

The League Cup is often seen as an excuse to field a weakened side, with fringe and youth players given a rare run-out, but John Maggs’ decision to change just his goalkeeper and central defender served notice of his desire to maintain his side’s impressive unbeaten start. Summer signing Alan Mansfield replaced Gareth Williams between the posts while Andy Howard dropped to the bench to give Andy Walker his first start since limping out of the Bank Holiday win at Slough. Carshalton showed three changes to the side that recorded their first win of the season in beating Walton & Hersham at the weekend with former Horsham player of the year Mark Hawthorne wearing the captain’s armband.

The Robins had put in a lacklustre display when the sides met at Queen Street in August but they began this match in determined mood, forcing a corner out of Tom Graves inside the opening minutes, but Craig Dundas’ header lacked the necessary power and direction and the ball was cleared. Home goalkeeper Paul Seuke was called into an early save when Westcott’s quality corner was flicked on by Eddie French at the near post and Gary Charman stooped to make a header that was palmed away to safety. Nigel Brake whipped in a vicious cross that evaded both Charman and Jamie Taylor at the back post but it was the Robins took the lead in their next attack when Omari Coleman received the ball with his back to goal, swivelled and hit a long range shot past the stationary Mansfield.

The former Three Bridges man was soon under more pressure, having to claim a telling cross from Mark Marshall, and his opposite number saved well from a Lee Carney free-kick. The home side were enjoying the better of the opening stages but the visitors began to find their rhythm, midway through the half, with Colston Avenue’s large playing surface providing the space to settle into their style of open free-flowing football. Westcott received a good pass from Carney and sent an accurate cross towards the far post where Jamie Taylor climbed highest to send a header just wide of the post and the pressure eventually told on the Robins’ defence when a deft through ball allowed Jamie Taylor to beat the offside trap with the striker looking set to add to his 102 goals. Bearing down on goal, he fired low to Seuke’s left but the ‘keeper did well to push the shot away only to watch helplessly as Westcott reacted quickest to lash home an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net to level the scores on 24 minutes. Horsham took the lead just two minutes later when another slick passing move saw Lewis Taylor apply a perfectly weighted pass that split the defence apart once more, allowing namesake Jamie to unselfishly lay the ball into the path of Rook and his strike partner slotted home at the second attempt after the exposed Seuke had done well to save the initial shot.

The visitors’ purple patch continued when they won the ball back immediately from the restart and a pinpoint pass to Brake sent the full-back racing past Steve Gibson before sending a killer ball into the penalty area where Jamie Taylor’s quick movement saw him beat Seuke to the ball but, somehow, the defence managed to clear the danger. Horsham had a clear shout for a penalty after half an hour when Taylor’s jinking run was ended by the combined efforts of Liam Harwood and David Graves, who appeared to take the Horsham man’s legs from beneath him, but the referee, who was well positioned, waved away the appeals. The Hornets will feel that justice was done when they added their third goal, three minutes later. Brake’s persistence earned his side a corner on the left and Carney’s superb delivery found Graves whose goalbound header was blocked on the line only for expert goal poacher Rook to apply the finishing touch.

Half time arrived with the visitors comfortably in control and with the added bonus that they could afford to take their foot off the gas ahead of Saturday’s big game. Perhaps with AFC Wimbledon in mind Maggs decided to rest Charman, sending on Matt Geard in his place for the start of the second half.

The second period failed to match the first for excitement and tempo with Horsham happy to preserve the lead although they almost extended their advantage soon after the break when Rook’s strength took him past Colin Hartburn before hitting a stinging shot that was turned away well by Seuke and Westcott’s follow up was deflected out for a throw. As the loose ball was played back out to Carney, the midfielder unleashed a screamer of a ball that flew across the goalmouth, missing the far post by a whisker.

At the other end, Mansfield drew appreciative applause from the home fans after keeping out sharp efforts from Dundas and Coleman as the Robins applied a bit of pressure. Howard brought another good save from the 23 year old and Dundas was frustrated again when his stunning long range effort was similarly thwarted. Geard collected a yellow card for a late challenge and the resulting free-kick saw Gary Drewett force the busy Horsham 'keeper into another good save that left the hosts realising that this wasn't to be their night. Having weathered the storm, the Hornets enjoyed the bulk of possession during the remaining ten minutes of play and threatened to add another goal only for Seuke's fine double save to deny Graves and Rook. Dundas' claims for a late penalty were turned away after he went sprawling in the box and Rook was cautioned for suggesting to the officials that the Carshalton player be booked for diving. Hawthorne, who had endured a miserable night against his former side, also saw yellow despite Brake's pleads for the referee to show leniency.

Two late substitutions by the home side saw Daniel Platel and Tom Carter replace Howard and Drewett, and Gibson made way for William Heavey after his foul on Jamie Taylor had left the Robins' full-back booked and injured. Heavey's first touch almost resulted in Horsham's fourth goal of the night when he deflected a corner onto his own upright.

Carshalton Athletic: 1.Paul Seuke 2.Steve Gibson (Heavey) 3.Liam Harwood 4.David Graves 5.Colin Hartburn 6.Mark Hawthorne 7.Mark Marshall 8.Matt Howard 9.Omari Coleman 10.Craig Dundas 11.Gary Drewett (Carter) Subs: 12. Alhajie Jabbie 14.Tom Carter (Platel) 15.Daniel Platel 16. William Heavey

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Andy Walker 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Tom Graves 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Lee Carney 8.John Westcott 9.Jamie Taylor  10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman (Geard)
Subs: 12.Andy Howard 14.James Cant 15.Kieron Johnson 16.Matt Geard 17.Gareth Williams

Goalscorers:

Carshalton Athletic - Coleman (7)

Horsham - Westcott (24), Rook (27, 33)

Attendance:  142