Horsham 0 v Margate 4
Saturday 9th December 2006
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Mark Wells

Horsham's tenure at the top of the Ryman Premier Division lasted just two matches after they were swept aside by a Margate side who took full advantage of the hosts' makeshift forward line to score four second half goals without reply. The match had been billed as the battle of the division's top scorers but the Hornets, shorn of the departed Jamie Taylor and the suspended Carl Rook, were always going to struggle against their second placed opponents for whom the prolific Danny Hockton lined-up despite pre-match predictions that injury might rule the 20 goal striker out of the game.

With Dan Rice's international clearance arriving too late for him to make his Hornets debut, Ryan Rummery was left as the only recognised striker available to John Maggs who opted to thrust utility man Tom Graves alongside his new signing in attack and the lack of depth in the Horsham squad was further highlighted by the inclusion of two of the club's youth team players on the bench alongside Lee Carney whose recovery from a thigh injury was weeks ahead of schedule.

The appalling weather that had brought about the postponement of the reserve and youth team matches at Queen Street during the week had made way for winter sunshine and a crowd of 646 gathered for this top of the table clash including a sizeable, and noisy, contingent from Kent. The first half was a cagey affair, with neither goalkeeper really tested until the closing stages. Rummery was inches away from connecting with a scuffed shot by Jacob Mingle and Gary Charman sent a couple of efforts wide as the hosts had the better of the opening exchanges but Paul Abbott responded for the visitors, latching on to Greg Oates' long ball out of defence and skilfully getting the better of both Eddie French and Kevin Hemsley before sending a left foot shot over the crossbar from eighteen yards. Midway through the half, a one-two between Hockton and Abbott ended with the latter shooting straight at Alan Mansfield in the Hornets' goal. A vital header by Pat Sappleton prevented Stuart Myall's tidy chip from reaching Graves, the Margate man going on to form a formidable barrier alongside player-manager Robin Trott in the centre of the visitors' defence. The experienced Lee Protheroe showed an economy of effort throughout the half, preferring the first time shot or pass to putting his foot on the ball, and he tested Mansfield with a twenty-five yard effort that was well fielded by the Horsham stopper who was looking to make it three clean sheets in a row after impressive displays against Bromley and AFC Wimbledon. Abbott was booked for pulling back John Westcott and the Hornets were dealt a blow on thirty-three minutes when Charman was forced to leave the field holding his side, Jose Goncalves coming on as his natural left-sided replacement. Rummery should have done better when a Mingle inspired break presented him with the opportunity to re-open his Horsham account on his second spell with the club but a weak shot gave Scott Chalmers-Stevens a comfortable save. The home side had a strong shout for a penalty, five minutes from the break, when Westcott went down under a challenge but referee Andy Davies was unconvinced and waved away the appeals only to further anger the home fans when he penalised Nigel Brake after Hockton fell theatrically on the edge of the Horsham penalty area. Trott's free-kick was spectacularly punched away by Mansfield to bring an end to an intriguing, if not action-packed, first half.

The second period saw the visitors in more determined mood and Steve McKimm shot over after combining well with James Pinnock after just seven minutes and Hockton had the ball in the Horsham net, only to see it ruled out for a clear offside. Westcott evened up the bookings count for a foul on Abbott before Maggs made the second substitution of the game, replacing the ever willing Graves with Carney. Horsham had a further penalty appeal turned down when Rummery burst onto a through ball before appearing to be felled by Trott, just inside the area, and salt was rubbed into the wounds, sixty seconds later, when the visitors took the lead. Hockton's header was cleared off the line, from Protheroe's left wing corner, only for Jimmy Jackson to fire the rebound straight back through a number of bodies, the ball taking a final touch off Hockton on its way into the back of the net to the delight of the travelling fans. The lead was doubled, two minutes later, when a deep cross was met by Jackson who towered above Myall at the far post to give Mansfield no chance with a thumping header. Carney worked hard to drag his side back into the game and Sappleton had to produce another important header from the substitute's dangerous free-kick. French headed the resulting corner over the top of Chalmers-Stevens' goal. A bouncing ball led to indecision in the home defence and Mansfield had to save well to prevent Jackson from registering his second of the game. Rummery twice glanced headers wide in the space of a minute, both from crosses by Brake, but the hosts flattered to deceive in front of goal and Hockton showed them how it was done, heading home from close range to make it 3-0 from Abbott's cross. Again Carney surged forward in search of a lifeline, releasing Goncalves, but the Portuguese winger dallied and his shot went harmlessly through to the 'keeper. With the contest now effectively over, Maggs introduced youth team striker Dean Wright for his first team debut and his energetic running drew encouraging support from the Horsham followers. However, the visitors continued to apply the pressure and wrapped up the scoring eight minutes from time when Hockton's strong run down the right drew four Horsham players with the fifth, Myall, turning the ball into his own net via his chest. Jackson was immediately withdrawn with Danny Dolton given his third run out of the season and only Mansfield's outstretched boot prevented Hockton from making it five after French had lost possession inside the centre circle. Margate's top scorer was left shaking his head, moments later, when he missed a golden opportunity to make it five goals on the road for the second time this season, swivelling unmarked to fire wide of the gaping goal from just six yards. A fifth goal would have been extremely harsh on the hosts who will feel aggrieved at the final scoreline, their understrength side having matched the visitors for over an hour.

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Stuart Myall 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott 9.Ryan Rummery (Wright) 10.Tom Graves (Carney) 11.Gary Charman (Goncalves) Substitutes: 12.Jose Goncalves 14.Kieran Johnson 15.Lee Carney 16.Dean Wright 17.Rob Frankland

Margate: 1.Scott Chalmers-Stevens 2.Greg Oates 3.Dean Standen 4.Lee Protheroe 5.Patt Sappleton 6.Robin Trott 7.Steve McKimm 8.Paul Abbott 9.James Pinnock 10.Danny Hockton 11.Jimmy Jackson (Dolton) Substitutes: 12.James Donovan 14.Lewis Smith 15.Danny Dolton 17.Charlie Mitten

Goalscorers:

Margate - Jackson (64), Hockton (62,77), Myall og (82)

Attendance: 646