Billericay Town 1 Horsham 0
Saturday 27th January 2007
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham's long journey north came without reward as Joe Flack's goal maintained the Premier Division's only unbeaten home record and, with it, extended the Hornets' winless league run to five games. Horsham picked up a notable victory when the two sides met at the Atspeed Stadium earlier in the season but have struggled to find a replacement for the prolific goalscoring feats of Jamie Taylor and, as a result, have slipped steadily down the table after a series of disappointing results. By contrast, Billericay have maintained their steady climb towards the top and have begun to show the sort of form that had many tipping the Essex side for promotion this season.

Despite their opponents' formidable record at their New Lodge ground, the Hornets travelled in confident mood having suffered just two losses on the road and, in Lee Farrell, had a striker who might, for the short term at least, provide an answer to their goalscoring conundrum. The 23 year old, on a month's loan from County rivals Lewes, bagged himself a double hat-trick in the midweek demolition of Littlehampton Town and hopes were high that he might forge a productive partnership with Carl Rook in the remaining games of his temporary spell. However, he and his team-mates failed to trouble Blues' 'keeper Ronnie Worster throughout the entire ninety minutes of this Ryman Premier Division clash and, in truth, the Hornets were fortunate to escape with just a single goal defeat.

Horsham showed two changes to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw by Bromley the previous weekend with Stuart Myall returning after a one match suspension and, with Gary Charman failing to recover from a knock, Tom Graves took over the left-back role to allow Nigel Brake to take Charman's place on the wing. Lee Carney and Gareth Williams continued their return from injury with a place on the bench. Billericay were unchanged for the third match in a row with recent signing from Maidenhead United, Adie Allen, among the substitutes. Both teams found it hard to string two passes together at the start although the hosts might have taken an early lead when Graves fouled Matt Game who picked himself up to to float the free-kick towards the unmarked Leon Hunter who fired wide at the far post. Horsham tried to respond through John Westcott but, when his attempted cross was headed away by home skipper Jamie Dormer, the Blues began an immediate counter-attack that ended with Flack putting his shot wide of the target. Seconds later, the eager frontman was offside from Rikki Burbridge's pass as the home side started to take control of proceedings. Chris Whelpdale was working hard in midfield and he soon highlighted Myall's lack of pace as a factor to be exploited and Alan Mansfield had to come to his defender's aid with a brave dive at the winger's feet as he dashed into the area. Horsham's spasmodic forays in the Blues' half were being snuffed out before a shooting chance could be made as the midfield took a stranglehold, closing down the creativity of Lewis Taylor and Jacob Mingle and preventing them from establishing a foothold on the game. The visitors' frustrations were evident and Rook was fortunate to escape a caution from referee Richard Jaye when his over-zealous challenge sent Dave McSweeney into the advertising hoardings.

Whelpdale closed down Myall sufficiently to force the experienced full-back into a hurried clearance that rebounded off the winger and invitingly into the path of Flack but, once again, the Billericay player got his aim wrong and hit his shot wide with only Mansfield to beat. The Hornets' 'keeper was called into action straight after when he whipped the ball off Flack's toes after the lively frontman had broken free again and Whelpdale sent a free header wide as the visitors' defence continued to come under increasing pressure. A poorly executed free-kick allowed Billericay to break clear again and Myall had to resort to shirt pulling to prevent Whelpdale from racing clear, bringing the first booking of the afternoon. From the resulting free-kick, Myall's wild swing presented the home side with a corner and three desperate blocks prevented the Blues from taking the lead. When the ball was finally cleared, Horsham earned themselves a throw, parallel to their opponents' penalty area. Myall's long delivery was forced behind by McSweeney and, after Westcott's initial cross was only partially cleared, the Hornets had three unconverted attempts of their own although, sadly, this was to be one of the last times the Billericay goal came under threat. The visitors did manage to put together a rare move of quality involving Brake, Myall and Farrell that led to the former clipping a ball into the box but it was fractionally ahead of the incoming Mingle and the danger was cleared. Mansfield's goal came under siege in the final stages of the half with Game first shooting wide before picking out Whelpdale with a good delivery but, as the home fans rose to salute a goal, Eddie French was on hand to clear the goalbound header off the line. There was still time for Burbridge to lash another good chance high over the bar before Mr Jaye ended Horsham's punishment by bringing the half to an end.

John Maggs' side returned after the interval still in the hunt but knowing that there would have to be a massive improvement in their performance, or continued good fortune, if they were to get anything from this game. It was soon evident that there was to be no let up from the home side who immediately went on the offensive and hit the frame of the goal within a minute of the resumption. Dormer found himself with the ball at his feet from Billericay's first attack and his quick action saw him send a cross shot that beat everyone but crash back into play via the inside of the far upright. Perhaps this was going to be a day of good fortune for the Hornets after all ? Horsham enjoyed a brief spell of pressure of their own when Brake's tempting cross was met by the combined efforts of Worster and team-mate Steve Heffer, the centre-back almost heading into his own net and receiving a blow to the face for his troubles. Another Brake cross was too close to the goalkeeper and Rook, following up, conceded a free-kick for an unnecessary shoulder charge. At the other end, French had to produce a crucial interception to deny the dangerous Whelpdale. With thirty-five minutes remaining, Blues' boss Matt Jones introduced his new signing, Allen, in place of Burbridge while Myall was lucky to remain on the pitch having received a lengthy lecture from Mr Jaye for another obstruction on the flying Whelpdale.

The second half was following the same pattern as the first, with the hosts dominating affairs. Dormer shot wide after Game had eluded Brake to send in a cross, Whelpdale angered home fans by striking a great chance high over the stand when well placed and this was followed by a fantastic save by Mansfield, pushing Flack's goalbound shot away after another pass from Game had created the shooting opportunity. With Myall walking the tightrope, Maggs withdrew his full-back to allow Carney his first taste of the action since before Christmas, dropping Brake back to tackle the threat of Whelpdale. However, within two minutes the defence was finally breached when the winger beat Brake to put in a cross to the far post where Allen was able to play the ball back first time towards Flack to gleefully slam his shot into the far corner to send the supporters wild with delight. French had to make another timely interception on Allen as the substitute thought he was through on goal and Whelpdale had two chances to mark his twentieth birthday in style but sent both gift-wrapped chances over the stands. Horsham made another tactical switch with twenty minutes left, replacing Westcott with Matt Geard with the former Burgess Hill man taking up a role on the left and Carney moving into Westcott's right-hand spot but the midfielder was understandably struggling to get into the game after so many weeks out and it was becoming clear there would be no easy way back for the Hornets.

The game entered a scrappy spell with the home side apparently happy to defend their narrow advantage. Kevin Hemsley miskicked a through ball and had to rely on French to save his embarrassment at the expense of a corner and Mansfield was required to produce a good punched clearance to keep the game alive. After another long range shot from Dormer, goalscorer Flack was replaced by the experienced Lee Hodges but it was Horsham who were to create the next, and their last, chance of the match when Carney released Farrell but the striker miscued badly to send his effort sailing harmlessly out for a goal kick. Maggs played his final throw of the dice with less than five minutes remaining, sending on Ryan Rummery in place of Brake, without much effect and the match ended in controversial fashion with the dismissal of Allen for a touchline tussle. Taylor and Hodges contested a ball that ran out of play. Believing the ball to be a Horsham throw, Taylor tried to wrestle the ball from Hodges' grasp only to receive a punch to the face from the substitute and, as Allen came across to mediate, the inevitable pushing ensued only for Mr Jaye to stun the home fans by showing the red card to Allen. Equally surprising was the yellow card given to Taylor while Hodges, the original transgressor, walked away without a caution. A minute later, the official's whistle heralded an end to a disappointing ninety minutes for the Hornets who know that they must look to return to winning ways on Tuesday night against Slough Town if their hopes of a play-off place are to be fulfilled.

Billericay Town: 1.Ronnie Worster 2.Dave McSweeney 3.Danny Kerrigan 4.Darren Blewitt 5.Steve Heffer 6.Jamie Dormer 7.Chris Whelpdale 8.Leon Hunter 9.Joe Flack (Hodges) 10.Rikki Burbridge 11.Matt Game Substitutes: 12.Adrian Allen 14.Lee Hodges 15.Rob Swaine 16.Danny Hill 17.Chris Wayman

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Tom Graves 3.Stuart Myall (Carney) 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle 8.John Westcott (Geard) 9.Lee Farrell 10.Carl Rook 11.Nigel Brake (Rummery)
Substitutes: 12.Ryan Rummery 14.Matt Geard 15.Lee Carney 17.Gareth Williams

Goalscorers:

Billericay Town - Flack (66)

Attendance: 548