Slough Town 1 v Horsham 3
Monday 28th August 2006
Ryman League Premier Division

Reporter: Jim Bravery

Horsham continue to confound the critics after this 3-1 win took them to sixth place in the Ryman Premier Division. Tipped by many to struggle in their debut season at this level, the Hornets remain unbeaten after four games and this victory made it two wins, and seven goals scored, in a highly satisfactory August bank holiday weekend. It is early days, of course, but Horsham will take immense pleasure in looking down the table upon such teams as AFC Wimbledon, Chelmsford City and Carshalton Athletic, all reported to have spent big money during the summer, as their small squad continues to improve with every performance.

The Hornets were without Gary Charman who lasted just twenty-eight minutes of Friday night's match against Hendon, leaving the way clear for John Westcott to start his first match of the season. Andy Walker was passed fit to carry on the captaincy and there was a welcome return to action for Nigel Brake who lined up on the left wing with the versatile Lewis Taylor dropping back to occupy the full-back spot.

Although Slough made the more positive start, forcing a number of unproductive early corners, it was the visitors who took the lead after just nine minutes when Lee Carney collected a clearance from his own throw-in, lobbed the ball back into the box for Jamie Taylor to flick on and Brake crowned his return with a right foot volley that eluded the diving Kieron Drake in goal. Three minutes later, a good move from the Hornets saw Jamie Taylor nip in in front of the hesitant Marc Leach but his effort was turned away for a corner off the legs of the goalkeeper. Sadly for Walker, an injury received during the build up to the move led to his withdrawal and an early reshuffle from manager John Maggs. Andy Howard replaced his skipper, with Carney taking the captain's armband, while Tom Graves moved to right back and Lewis Taylor pushing into a midfield role. Drake made a comfortable catch from Carl Rook's fifteenth minute header and, in a rare attacking threat from the hosts, Leigh Mason drove his shot high over Gareth Williams' goal. Lewis Taylor was unfortunate to see his shot rebound to safety after the ball had ricocheted around the Slough Town penalty area and Westcott's effort, although on target, lack the pace or power to trouble the 'keeper.

Slough's main threat seemed to come from set pieces and recent signing, Jamie Jarvis, headed a corner wide before an unseasonable downpour sent the fans behind the goals scurrying for cover but the strong wind meant that even those seeking refuge in the main stand weren't safe from the elements. Horsham thought they had doubled their lead ten minutes before the break when Drake could only parry Carney's well struck shot and Jamie Taylor pounced to slot home the rebound only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman's offside flag. The Rebels' Ancalet Odhiambo thought he'd won his side a penalty when he raced on to Graves' weak back header but the referee, like some of his team-mates, were unimpressed by the theatrical fall and play was allowed to continue with a Horsham goal-kick. Odhiambo's tricky run set up a shooting chance for Matty Glyn but his shot was touched behind for a corner. A free-kick from Brake was almost inexplicably headed into his own goal by Jarvis only for Drake to save his team-mate's blushes with an acrobatic tip over and, from the resulting corner, Brake fired the loose ball narrowly over the top as the Hornets continued to look the more likely to score. Howard's shot skimmed past the upright after Graves had knocked on another Carney throw and Mason was unfortunate that his header went wide of the upright after Gareth McLeary's cross had found him lurking at the far post.

The home side began the second half in more determined fashion and tested Williams just seven minutes after the resumption when McLeary's powerful run and shot proved too hot to handle for the young 'keeper who had to collect the ball at the second attempt. Poor tackles from Brake and Payne allowed McLeary to break again, minutes later, and this time he fed Odhiambo who slipped the ball under the diving Williams but he, too, fell foul of the linesman's flag and the goal was ruled out for offside. Alex Gibson had a half-chance saved and Jarvis' header didn't drop enough to worry Horsham's goalkeeper before the Hornets began to get back into this game when Jamie Taylor's angled drive was saved by Drake under suspicion of handball from the Horsham striker. The lively McLeary was proving to be Slough's main attacking threat and another positive run at the heart of the visitors' defence led to a low shot that brought a good save from Williams. However, it was the Sussex side who scored next, doubling their lead when Westcott and Carney combined to send Lewis Taylor free and, when the ball got stuck under the midfielder's feet, Carney pounced to send the ball goalwards where Rook's final touch sent it over the goal-line for his second goal of the season.

Former Oxford United youngster, Daryl Harris, was sent on to replace debutant Gibson after sixty-five minutes and his introduction seemed to have the desired effect as the Rebels pulled a goal back just seven minutes later. Carney had received a kick in the head after trying to nod home Westcott's cross and Odhiambo tested Williams again before a right wing corner was headed against the inside of the post by Leach for Jarvis to react quickest and scramble the ball home from six yards. Maggs sent on Matt Geard for the tiring Brake with eleven minutes remaining and, within sixty seconds, the former Burgess Hill player had a hand in Horsham's decisive third goal. Geard's long ball forward found the ever willing running of Jamie Taylor and his determined play took him away from Leon Woodruffe and Darron Wilkinson before squaring the ball back for the incoming Westcott to power home a first time shot to the delight of the supporters who had made the journey to Berkshire. The gloss was initially taken off the goal when it was apparent that Westcott had received a knock when scoring but he was able to continue after treatment. Jamie Taylor might have made it four but, having done the hard part in expertly bringing down Geard's chipped pass, the striker volleyed high and wide to remain tantalisingly close to that one hundred goal mark for the Hornets. Woodruffe had the final act of the game, shooting wide from distance, but the win belonged to Horsham - their first on their travels against Slough since 1961.

Slough Town: 1.Kieron Drake 2.Steve Dell 3.Leon Woodruffe 4.Jamie Jarvis 5.Marc Leach 6.Darron Wilkinson 7.Leigh Mason 8.Matty Glynn 9.Alex Gibson (Harris) 10.Gareth McLeary 11. Ancalet Odhiambo Subs: 12.Steve Daly 14.Mark West 15.Mark Bartley 16.Ian Lovegrove 17.Daryl Harris

Horsham: 1.Gareth Williams 2. Lewis Taylor 3. Ian Payne 4.Eddie French 5.Tom Graves 6.Andy Walker (Howard) 7.Lee Carney 8. John Westcott 9.Jamie Taylor 10.Carl Rook 11.Nigel Brake (Geard)
Subs: 12.Andy Howard 14.Matt Geard 15.James Cant 16.Kieron Johnson 17.Alan Mansfield

Goalscorers:

Slough Town - Jarvis (76)

Horsham - Brake (9), Rook (65), Westcott (80)

Attendance: 343