Margate 1 v Horsham 1
Tuesday 27th March 2007
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Ivan Raby

Horsham gained a well deserved point from their long trek to the Kent Coast that reaffirmed them as one of the division's most difficult sides to beat. The Hornets have lost just eight times in this, their debut season in the Isthmian League top flight, a record bettered only by four other sides. However, it has been their inability to finish off their opponents that has arguably cost them a realistic chance of back-to-back promotions. Had just four of their thirteen drawn games ended in victory, John Maggs' team would be in third place, breathing heavily down the necks of leaders Chelmsford and Billericay Town. However, let that not detract from what was the latest in a series of impressive performances against their promotion chasing rivals and, but for the width of a post, they might have returned to Sussex with three valuable points.

With the news that the FA had reduced AFC Wimbledon's points deduction from eighteen to three, both Horsham and Margate knew that they must pick up maximum points from this encounter to keep up the fight for what looks increasingly like the final play-off place. Both teams went in to this game in less than impressive form, recording just the one win apiece in their last five games. The home side, especially, had hit a poor run in front of goal failing to find the net in four of those games - the latest of which saw them defeated 1-0 at home by Heybridge Swifts at the weekend. However, with new signing Rob Haworth joining the prolific Danny Hockton up front, 'Gate were always going to provide the Hornets defence with plenty of problems. Horsham's own recent acquisition, former Egham Town striker Shane Graham, began on the bench with Lee Carney alongside leading scorer Carl Rook and Tom Graves replacing the injured Nigel Brake at full-back while the absent Matt Geard meant that Maggs had three strikers and a goalkeeper on his bench.

Both teams took a while to settle in to this encounter in front of a noisy home crowd on a bright Spring evening that welcomed Horsham's first ever visit to Hartsdown Park. Lee Carney was the target for for a couple of early fouls, just inside the Margate half, which both resulted in free kicks that were comfortably cleared by the home side's defence. On fifteen minutes, Horsham won another free kick when Rook was brought down but, this time, the effort from Carney went wide. Both sides were looking to play attractive football but any danger from Margate was soon dealt with by the Hornets back four. However, the visitors were to receive a let-off on seventeen minutes when an effort from Hockton was ruled out for offside. Horsham began to put together some sustained pressure on the Margate goal and, on twenty-eight minutes, Gary Charman unleashed a fierce volley from a tight angle which struck the post with goalkeeper Charlie Mitten rooted to the spot. A minute later Jay Saunders was booked for a foul on Lewis Taylor but, once again, the free-kick was headed away by the powerful Dean Standen. Horsham kept creating with Taylor and Jacob Mingle running the midfield and, before the break, Mitten turned a Rook header away for a corner before the same player put in a cross that was almost put in to his own net by Greg Oates.

Horsham started the second half well as they continued to play neat football but without really creating any decent chances and, with Margate unable to get any of their own possession, the hardy band of travelling supporters were sensing that taking all three points was a possibility. The game came back to life on the hour mark with a spell of Horsham pressure that had the home defence on the back foot. First a Charman header landed in the arms of the 'keeper then, minutes later, a dangerous free kick from Myall was headed across goal by Charman towards Graves on the back post whose goalbound header was saved for a corner. Incredibly, from the resulting corner, the same two players again linked up with headers and this time Mitten pulled off an even better save tipping the ball over the bar for another corner. A Horsham goal seemed certain to come and when Myall whipped a ball in from the left, Charman met the ball well heading into the ground to force Mitten to concede yet another corner. Despite being under severe pressure, Margate were to clear their lines and the resulting counter-attack was to see them take the lead albeit under controversial circumstances. Carney was involved in a nasty collision on the edge of the box and was clearly hurt, with both defender and goalkeeper concerned for his welfare, yet the referee motioned at Carney to get up, allowing play to continue. The hosts played some neat passes as spectators wondered if the ball would be put out for the injured player but the players couldn't be blamed for the referee's controversial decision and a cross from the right was put away by Hockton for his thirty-third goal of the season, his first goal in six games. Horsham's players were incensed with the referee and, before play restarted, Taylor was shown a yellow card for carrying his protests too far. Coming just fifteen minutes from the end, it seemed like it was to be one of those nights, and the headline 'Mugged in Margate' seemed an appropriate title for this report.  But Horsham showed great character, continuing to play football as they hunted the equaliser. James Pinnock was booked for a foul and, before the free kick was taken, Shane Graham replaced John Westcott. Carney put in a great delivery which was met by the unlikely figure of Stuart Myall to head home (see photos below) and make it 1-1 for the defender's first goal for the club. The goalscorer ran off to the corner in delight followed by his team mates where he demonstrated a break dance, spinning on his back in front of the young Margate fans who had been taunting him minutes earlier. Margate nearly had the final say when Gareth Williams was forced to make a wonder save from Hockton but, a minute later, the final whistle blew to leave both sides on the periphery of the play-off group with just five weeks of the season remaining.

Margate: 1.Charlie Mitten 2.Greg Oates 3.Louis Smith (Protheroe) 4.Dean Standen 5.Pat Sappleton 6.James Donovan 7.James Pinnock 8.Jay Saunders 9.Rob Haworth 10.Danny Hockton 11.Jimmy Jackson Substitutes: 12.Lee Protheroe 14.Scott Chalmers-Stevens 15.Danny Wisker 16.Nick Bagley 17.Allen

Horsham: 1.Gareth Williams 2.Tom Graves 3.Stuart Myall (Cooper) 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott (Graham) 9.Lee Carney 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Substitutes: 12.Shane Graham 14.Kevin Cooper 15.Dean Wright 17.Alan Mansfield

Goalscorers:

Margate - Hockton (75)

Horsham - Myall (84)

Attendance - 462