Folkestone's Buzzlines Stadium is one of the more attractive grounds in the division, nestling at the foot of the North Downs with three covered sides and a sweeping terrace behind one goal, and the sunshine and occasion brought the fans out in good number including a fair sized representation from Sussex, most of whom were determined to enjoy the occasion whatever the result. The Hornets showed two changes to the side that won at Ramsgate the previous weekend with Alan Mansfield replacing Gareth Williams in goal and Lewis Taylor returning to league action after a three week absence, slotting into midfield at the expense of Shane Graham who dropped to the bench. A dry, bumpy, and in places grassless pitch made control and good passing difficult although Andy Howard was quick to try his luck, hitting a right-foot effort well wide of Martin's goal after just two minutes, before Michael Everitt's effort was deflected behind for a corner that was cleared by Tom Graves. Damian Abel outpaced Horsham skipper Eddie French to be the first to Kevin Watson's long ball upfield but the striker's volleyed effort flew high over the top and a snapshot from Mark Saunders went wide of Mansfield's left hand upright. Folkestone continued to make the most of the running and Saunders flashed a header goalwards, with the merest of touches putting the ball behind for a corner. Jacob Mingle had his name taken by referee Mick McCoy for dissent as the official quickly established himself to be the type who found it simpler to punish a player for speaking out of turn rather than those who might have perpetrated foul play but Horsham gradually came into the game in the final ten minutes of the half with Kevin Hemsley unable to turn home Carl Rook's flick, after Dean Wright's non-stop running had earned his side a corner, and a free-kick by Taylor went close before the Hornets received a huge let-off when Saunders escaped the attentions of Graves at the far post only to send his header just wide of the post to conclude the first half's action.

With a number of supporters having chosen to seek shade from the blazing April sunshine during the interval, it was the visitors who made early in-roads after the restart when Mingle appeared to be hauled back inside the Folkestone penalty area but Mr McCoy, who had been given little assistance from his two linesman all afternoon, turned away Horsham's appeals. With the visitors struggling to create much from either flank, boss John Maggs replaced Graves and Geard with Stuart Myall and Nigel Brake - the former reacquainting himself with the ground he called 'home' for a couple of seasons before joining the Hornets - and, almost immediately, they conjured up their best chance of the game when Mingle was denied a spectacular goal thanks to the diving Martin who turned the midfielder's stinging volley away for a corner. Horsham were starting to enjoy some rare prolonged possession but they were caught out when Westcott's miskick left them exposed to a quick counter-attack and a quick one-two opened up the visitors' defence through which ran James Corbett but he was forced wide by Mansfield and Howard was on hand to clear the danger. A searching ball by Ben Sly, wearing the number nine shirt but playing at left-back, picked out Watson ghosting in behind the Horsham defence but, with just Mansfield to beat, the defender headed wide when it looked as if we were to witness the first goal of the afternoon. A tremendous ball in from the left by Brake fell invitingly for Rook and Wright but neither were able to convert at the near post and Brake was involved in a controversial moment at the the other end, soon after, when a corner appeared to hit his hand but Mr McCoy waved play on to the consternation of the fans gathered behind Mansfield's goal. Good interplay between the Folkestone forwards inside the area created another opportunity when a clever backheel set up Corbett who shot wide from close range but Brake continued to prove a dangerous outlet for Maggs' side with another teasing cross that Sly hacked clear, a yard from the goal-line. With fifteen minutes remaining, both sides made changes with the portly Rob Knott coming on for James Everitt while Cooper replaced Wright for whom a goal against Tonbridge Angels next week would be an apt reward for some wholehearted displays from the youngster. Mansfield was almost embarrassed by Abel when the Folkestone man chased down Hemsley's backpass only to have the clearance slammed into him by the Hornets' 'keeper. Fortunately for Mansfield, there was to be no repeat of the costly error that led to Horsham's FA Trophy elimination at Maidenhead earlier in the season as the ball rolled agonisingly across the face of goal before being gratefully gathered up by the relieved custodian. Rook sent a blistering shot inches over the crossbar, five minutes from time, and it looked like the Horsham supporters were going to end their season's travels as they had begun - with a 0-0 draw - until a period of possession football at the death saw Cooper conjure up a piece of magic to give the visitors their tenth league win on the road and leave Folkestone crestfallen. Brake might have added a second, almost immediately, when Taylor's through ball put his team-mate in on goal but, closed down by two defenders, Brake could only scuff his shot and Martin made a low save. The hosts' frustrations continued in injury time when Abel was booked for shooting past Mansfield and into the back of the net, long after the whistle had gone, before a more legitimate effort from the same player cannoned away off of a post. At the final whistle, the Horsham players gathered in front of their fans in acknowledgment of their support in what has been a superb first season in the Ryman Premier Division. Folkestone, meanwhile, travel to Carshalton next Saturday hoping that the right combination of results ensures their Premier Division survival for another season.