Horsham 2 v Chelmsford City 1
Saturday 9th September 2006
Ryman League Premier Division

Reporter: Jim Bravery

Title favourites Chelmsford City became the latest side to falter at the hands of the impressive Hornets who chalked up their fifth win of the season thanks to goals either side of half time by Lee Carney and Jamie Taylor.

If ever a measure of Horsham's progress this season could be determined then this was surely the game. Beaten 6-0 by the Essex side in last season's FA Trophy, the gulf in class between the sides seemed wider than the mere two divisions that separated them yet arguably the most experienced outfit to visit Queen Street in recent years were outfought and generally outplayed by a buoyant Horsham side who continue to confound the critics, and many of their own supporters, by blazing a trail at the top of the table. Far from being overawed on their debut season in the Premier Division, the desire, passion and self-belief of the Horsham team that has been evident since the opening fixture is a credit to the management team and it would seem that Horsham's propensity for failing on the big occasion is now a thing of the past as another confident display made it seven matches unbeaten, putting them level on points with Bromley at the top of the table.

The Clarets finished in tenth place in the league last season but, having recruited heavily from ailing Football Conference side Canvey Island during the summer, as well as adding the likes of experienced players such as Jeff Minton and Peter Smith, many 'experts' had tipped Jeff King's side to take the championship title this time round. However, the Essex club have not had it all their own way so far, having lost one and drawn three of their opening six matches, and disenchanted noises could already be heard among many of their supporters.

Having been deprived of the services of Ian Payne after his horrific injury at Boreham Wood, manager John Maggs drafted in Matt Geard for his first start in four matches but the Hornets' ill-fortune continued as the former Burgess Hill player was injured during the warm-up and had to be replaced by Gary Charman who was, himself, appearing for the first time since the visit of Hendon at the end of August. The visitors elected to kick up the slope in the first half and had the best of the early exchanges with Stuart Ainsley looking the most likely to cause the home defence trouble, hitting the ball just wide of Gareth Williams' goal and then sending over a dangerous in-swinging free-kick that David McGhee also guided wide. At the other end, Charman just failed to get a touch after Lee Carney's through ball almost caught the Clarets defence flat-footed. The game quickly developed into an end to end battle with both teams attacking in numbers and Jamie Taylor will be regretting his lack of control after Carl Rook's header sent the striker free. A minute later, Rook stretched to get onto the end of a misdirected header from McGhee but Richard McKinney was able to make a comfortable save in the Chelmsford goal and the 'keeper had to act smartly to deny another Horsham chance when Jamie Taylor combined with namesake Lewis to create another opening. Minton replied with a fierce free-kick but the former Spurs and Brighton player was denied by Williams' safe hands.

The home side continued to enjoy the better chances and, after Carney had shot over, Lewis Taylor's clever ball over the defence saw McKinney and Jamie Taylor contest the bouncing ball with the latter sending a lob over the 'keeper that just cleared the crossbar. The pattern of play continued with both teams committing to attack, resulting in a fine spectacle for the crowd of just under five hundred, and Jason Hallett volleyed Minton's cross just past the post. In the twentieth minute, Jamie Taylor wasted a glorious chance, blazing Westcott's through ball wastefully over the bar when it looked odds on that he would open the scoring. Westcott might have regretted his decision not to shoot on goal after Charman's industry had allowed the winger to cut inside but he elected to pull the ball back and, with with no-one in support, the opportunity was lost. An effort from Lewis Taylor was saved, after the sort of build up play that the home fans have started to become accustomed to seeing this season, but Williams had to be at his best to repel a strike from Kezie Ibe and Eddie French had to make one of his customary blocks to divert a dangerous shot behind for a corner. Andy Howard needed treatment after receiving a clumsy challenge and captain Carney was lectured by referee Lee Venamore after the official deemed the tackle to be a fair one. Charman's persistence won his side a corner which was flicked into the side netting by Rook before Chelmsford made a change, introducing Liam Hopkins for McGhee, nine minutes from half-time.

Horsham produced a sublime passage of play instigated, as always, by Carney who received a throw from Nigel Brake and, under pressure from Gavin Heeroo, flicked a header to himself and knocked the ball over the midfielder before hitting a first time pass into Charman's path and his first time shot fizzed past McKinney's post to appreciative ooh's and aah's from the Lardies behind the goal. Yet the skipper showed that even he was fallible when, shortly after, his attempted backpass went straight to Mario Noto but the covering defenders were able to shepherd the ball to safety to the relief of the Hornets' number seven. Minton had a goalbound effort deflected wide off Ibe with the Horsham defence at sixes and sevens and the match seemed destined to remain goalless as the half drew to a close. But the diligence of Lewis Taylor provided a platform for the hosts to mount one final assault on the visitors' goal when he chased back superbly to retrieve the ball from Ibe and hit a telling twenty-five yard pass to Westcott. The winger was impeded as he cut inside and, although initially allowing play to continue, Mr Venamore signalled the award of a free-kick allowing defenders French and Howard to move into the attack. However, in a neat move clearly worked out on the training ground, Brake delivered a short pass into Carney who sidestepped Noto and hit a shot with the outside of his boot past the diving 'keeper for a wonderfully crafted goal.

With no changes to either team's personnel at the break, Horsham went with the adage that the best form of defence is attack and immediately went on the offensive, doubling their lead within three minutes of the restart. Brake collected a pass on the left and threaded a slide rule pass into the path of Jamie Taylor and he quickly finished off the move, leaving McKinney helpless as he registered his seventh goal of what promises to be another productive season. Lewis Taylor almost finished off a Westcott cross at the far post and Williams clung onto a dangerous corner as Chelmsford fought desperately to reduce the arrears. Ainsley should have converted Hallett's testing cross and King, obviously deciding that his forwards needed some extra help, made a bold move in sending on attacking midfielder Ricky Holmes for full-back Stuart Bimson. But it was Hallett who was next to squander a golden opportunity when his far post header ruffled the side netting.

The result should have been put beyond doubt with fifteen minutes remaining when a brilliant run from Lewis Taylor took him into the penalty area only for Steve Ward to take his legs away with a poor challenge, leaving Venamore with little option than to indicate a penalty kick. But Carney, usually so deadly from twelve yards, saw his spot-kick well saved by McKinney, low to his left, and Rook couldn't convert the rebound, blazing it carelessly over the bar. The save seemed to fire up the visitors, both on and off the pitch, as a member of their coaching team was given his marching orders for abusive language to the linesman closely followed by a shot from Hopkins that went the wrong side of the post. Eventually the pressure told and Holmes found himself in the right place to finish with a well taken goal, ten minutes from time. Nerves were starting to jangle in the home defence as wave upon wave of attacks threatened the back four and only an excellent tackle by French prevented Hallett from advancing on goal. Further efforts from Holmes and Ainsley were kept out at the death as home supporters pleaded with the official to bring the game to an end. Eventually, after nine minutes of stoppage time, the whistle blew to invoke the biggest cheer of the afternoon.

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

Chelmsford City: 1.Richard McKinney 2.Steve Ward 3.Stuart Bimson (Holmes) 4.Ben Chenery 5.David McGhee (Hopkins) 6.Gavin Heeroo 7.Mario Noto 8.Jeff Minton 9.Jason Hallett (Battersby) 10.Kezie Ibe  11.Stuart Ainsley
Subs: 12.Tony Battersby 14.Ricky Holmes 15.Liam Hopkins 16.Spencer Knight 17. Mitchell Lowes

Goalscorers:

Horsham - Carney (45), J Taylor (48)

Chelmsford City - Holmes (80)

Attendance: 496