Horsham 3 v Billericay Town 1
Saturday 11th November 2006
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Mark Wells

In a season that has seen Horsham surpass the expectations of even their most optimistic supporters, John Maggs' side went one step further to produce arguably their most complete performance of the new season to defeat Billericay Town in front of another healthy Atspeed crowd. The visitors, reportedly operating on a full time basis, were even given the luxury of an early lead as the Hornets conceded for the twelfth league match in a row but the hosts fought back superbly to establish a decisive 3-1 lead by half time and a composed defensive performance after the break secured a well deserved victory that moved them level on points with Bromley and Heybridge Swifts at the top of the table.

With Lee Carney's troublesome groin continuing to keep him on the sidelines, Maggs was able to give a debut to former Ashford Town midfielder Jacob Mingle, who had signed for the Hornets just twenty-four hours earlier, while Kevin Hemsley took the field for the last match of his month long loan spell from Eastbourne Borough and Jose Goncalves filled in at full-back for the absent Nigel Brake who was completing a four match suspension. There was cause for celebration before the game when a club delegation, including Youth Team Secretary Annie Raby, were presented with the FA Charter Standard in front of the main stand although the mood was dampened somewhat by the announcement of long serving club secretary Jeff Barrett to stand down at the end of the month.

Horsham began the game well, forcing two corners in the opening two minutes, but they were to fall behind in just the fifth minute when a move involving Dave McSweeney, Leon Hunter and Chris Whelpdale saw the latter send a low ball across the edge of the penalty area where the experienced Lee Hodges capitalised on Lewis Taylor's miscontrol to send a right foot shot beyond Alan Mansfield's despairing dive that had home fans fearing a repeat of the 4-1 home defeat against Harrow Borough in which their side had conceded three goals inside the opening quarter of an hour. To their credit, the hosts fought back well and Mingle was unfortunate when the ball wouldn't drop for him after his well timed run was picked out by Goncalves. The sides were level on twelve minutes through another masterful finish from Lewis Taylor. The former Whyteleafe man scored a terrific equalising goal at Ashford Town in Horsham's last league outing but he was to eclipse that with an exquisite finish that gave visiting 'keeper Ronnie Worster no chance. Collecting a pass from Gary Charman, the blond midfielder stepped outside Matt Game and hit a left foot shot fizzing into the top corner of the net from thirty yards that had his manager and fans on their feet.

There were appeals for a penalty when Rook appeared to be impeded by Steve Heffer when contesting a cross from John Westcott and, from the resulting corner, Jamie Taylor had an overhead effort that was cleared as the Hornets attacked the Billericay goal with purpose. Charman was at the heart of Horsham's next move as his good run led to a pass out wide to Westcott and another dangerous looking cross flew across the face of Worster's goal with neither Mingle nor Rook able to apply the killer touch. Town's burly striker, Nathan Elder, was the visitors' major threat and a neat nod down from the big target man let in Game only for Mansfield to deny his opponent with a brave save. Horsham went ahead, just two minutes later, thanks to a mistake by centre-back Heffer and the tenacity of Jamie Taylor. Lewis Taylor clipped an inviting ball towards his ever-willing team-mate only for Heffer to get there first to direct a weak header back to his own 'keeper. Taylor's anticipation caused Worster to flap at the ball, succeeding only in pushing the ball into the path of Rook who rammed the ball home from close range for his ninth goal of the season. A misplaced pass from Mingle almost allowed the visitors an immediate riposte when a quick pass from midfield released Billy Holland but the striker's finish was poor and the ball flashed high and wide of Mansfield's goal.

Elder was to display his aerial threat once more when he climbed highest to reach Danny Kerrigan's cross but the man who had claimed seven goals in six games was unable to add to his tally as he sent his header over the crossbar. Taylor wasted a decent opportunity when he was played through on goal from Lewis Taylor's pass but, with no support, he elected to shoot early and the ball bobbled harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Whelpdale was allowed two bites of the cherry when he sent his shot wide, after seeing his first effort blocked, and Hodges looked to have claimed his second of the game when he clipped a clever shot onto the roof of the net on the half hour. Mansfield stood up well when Holland played a neat one-two and fired a powerful shot that rebounded off the Horsham goalkeeper's chest for a corner and Worster performed similar heroics when he threw himself to his right to repel Jamie Taylor's ferocious volley as an open half continued to witness chances at both ends. The Hornets had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down by referee Lloyd Rendell when Mingle's shot hit Game from close range but the hosts had just three minutes to wait before they were celebrating a third goal. Again, it was the two Taylors who were involved as Lewis' ball over the top took out three defenders, allowing Jamie an unimpeded run on goal and the Horsham marksman applied a cool finish, stroking the ball past Worster into the far corner of the net. It might have been 4-1 shortly after when Stuart Myall's raking ball was held up by Rook but Taylor shot disappointingly over the top but the home side could be pleased with their two goal advantage as Rendell's whistle signalled the end of an entertaining first half.

Taylor headed Westcott's excellent cross over the crossbar, three minutes after the interval, as the hosts showed no desire to sit on their lead and Billericay manager Matt Jones was soon forced into a change when he replaced Game with Jamie Dormer. Lewis Taylor's snapshot tested the handling of Worster and Elder was cautioned for a foul on Myall before heading Hodges' free-kick off target on fifty-seven minutes. Another dangerous cross from Westcott earned his side a corner and, when the ball was returned into the box, Hemsley cut inside before letting fly with a right foot shot that threatened Darren Blewitt's ability to father children, rather than call Worster into action, earning the Billericay number four some good-natured ribbing from the Horsham fans as he limped uncomfortably from the pitch. Charman was booked for a foul on Whelpdale, the booking almost certainly a result of his fierce protestations with Mr Rendell as much as the foul itself, to join Rook in the official's notebook after the striker was harshly adjudged to have deliberately impeded a Billericay free-kick earlier in the half.  The visitors' goal led a charmed life, just after the hour mark, when Westcott's perfectly flighted corner was helped on by Charman and both Rook and Eddie French were denied at close range before the ball was hastily cleared. Hodges was replaced by Rikki Burbridge, soon after, and the substitute was quickly involved, pouncing onto a far post flick by Elder only to be denied by a good low save from Mansfield. Burbridge's commitment to the cause incurred the wrath of the referee when he became the latest player to be booked, for a foul on Myall, while the Horsham full-back showed everyone how to tackle when his perfectly executed challenge prevented Burbridge from releasing a shot after working himself a good angle. As the minutes ticked down, the visitors became the more dominant side, pouring forward at every opportunity, and Charman was perfectly placed to head Burbridge's effort off the line following a free-kick from the left. Blewitt's clumsy foul on Taylor looked to have earned the home side a penalty with less than ten minutes remaining and a strong run from Goncalves ended with the Portuguese winger over-running the ball for a goal kick as Horsham looked to kill off Town's threat with a fourth goal. Mingle left the field to appreciative applause after a promising debut as Maggs elected to send on Tom Graves to provide some extra defensive cover and his presence was certainly required after the visitors laid siege to the Horsham goal in the closing stages. Elder did well to turn away from Myall and send in a shot that Mansfield turned away at his near post and the Hornets' stopper performed magnificently to turn Elder's deflected shot spectacularly over the 'bar. Joe Flack had only been on the pitch for seven minutes before becoming the next recipient of the yellow card when his crunching challenge left Goncalves in a heap on the deck. The game ended with Billericay in the ascendancy and Mansfield was called upon to provide one final save when he turned Elder's shot away at the near post but the Hornets survived to record their eighth win of the season to move into third place in the table.

Horsham: 1.Alan Mansfield 2.Stuart Myall 3.Jose Goncalves 4.Eddie French 5.Kevin Hemsley 6.Lewis Taylor 7.Jacob Mingle (Graves) 8.John Westcott 9.Jamie Taylor 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Andy Howard 14.Matt Geard 15.Tom Graves 17.Rob Frankland

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

Goalscorers:

Horsham - L Taylor (12), Rook (24), J Taylor (42)

Billericay Town - Hodges (5)

Attendance: 462