Horley Town 1 v Horsham 3
Tuesday 1st August 2006
Friendly

Reporter: Jim Bravery

A Horsham team of experience, youth and new faces comfortably won 3-1 at Horley although at times made heavy weather of it.

The first goal came in the thirteenth minute, a good Owen Botting cross finally fell to Jamie Liddell who scrambled the ball in. He should have made it two a couple of minutes later when a good ball in from the right by newcomer Lewis Taylor left Liddell unmarked but his shot was too close to the keeper and he saved well. At the other end a half chance fell to the loan striker but he badly mis-hit his shot wide. Lee Carney then laid on a perfect pass for Jamie Taylor but his shot went wide when he should have done better. Andy Walker then created a good chance for himself. Beating three players, he went on to shoot but his shot went the wrong side of the upright.

Lewis Taylor looks a useful prospect, the ex AFC Wimbledon and Whyteleafe player continually had the beating of the full back and the final ball into the box should have resulted in more goals. Liddell again had the shot but it was deflected behind and Matt Geard's corner was met by Andy Howard's head but again went the wrong side of the post.

An Andy Walker half volley just cleared the 'bar before more Horsham pressure rewarded them with a second goal. Several blocked shots around the Horley goal was finally finished off by Lewis Taylor who cracked the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

A minute later Horley pulled a goal back when a long floated ball to the back post saw Gary Elliott climbing to make the catch. Seemingly  fouled by a couple of Horley forwards, the ball rolled over the line and into the net as he fell. The referee signalled a goal but, when his attention was drawn to the linesman's raised flag, most people thought he was signalling for the foul but instead he advised the referee to send Geard off for foul language. Horsham manager John Maggs approached the officials indicating that it was a friendly and to see sense. A stern lecture followed and Geard was allowed to stay on.

The second half saw a number of Horsham changes with Eddie French, John Westcott, James Cant and Rupert Cape replaced Tom Graves, Ian Payne, Liddell and Walker and with twenty-five minutes left, Dan Attwater replaced Howard.

Goalmouth action was somehow lacking for most of the second half. Two shots from Rupert "Golden Boots" Cape went just past the post, a Carney twenty-five yarder went wide before the Horley centre half, facing his own goal, put the finishing touch to a devil of a cross from Geard that Jamie Taylor just missed getting a touch to in the 70th minute to make the score 3-1.

The Horley number four harassed all night long and caused the Hornets defence a few awkward moments. Lewis Taylor made a promising debut and looks a useful prospect, working hard all evening both in attack and defence and linked up well with his team mates.

Horsham: Gary Elliott, Ian Payne (Cant), Owen Botting, Tom Graves (French), Andy Howard (Attwater), Andy Walker (Cape), Lee Carney, Lewis Taylor, Jamie Taylor, Jamie Liddell (Westcott), Matt Geard. Subs: Eddie French, Dan Attwater, James Cant, Rupert Cape, John Westcott, Kieron Johnson