Horsham 1 v Heybridge Swifts 1
Saturday 3rd February 2007
Ryman League Premier Division

reporter: Mark Wells

Hornets boss John Maggs was a frustrated man after Heybridge Swifts survived a second half onslaught to claim a point from a game the hosts should have won by mile. "I can't fault any of my players for their performance," commented Maggs after the game. "We outplayed them but we needed the second goal. Gary Charman could have had a hat-trick in the first half but when the 'keeper's pulled off the type of save he did from Matt Geard, you know it's not going to be your day".

The two teams had drawn 1-1 at Scraley Road in November in what was a top of the table clash but both sides have lost their way in recent months, claiming just seven wins between them in the twenty-three games since, and had dropped out of the promotion play-off places but Heybridge came to Horsham determined to get back to winning ways after two disappointing defeats against lowly Walton & Hersham and Slough Town. The Hornets had hoped they'd turned the tide after their midweek defeat of Slough and were looking for another maximum points haul to close the gap on the teams above them, with just three points separating them from fifth placed Chelmsford City at the start of play. With Lewis Taylor sitting out the game through suspension, there was a return to action for Lee Carney whose thigh injury had restricted him to just twelve minutes' play since before Christmas in an otherwise unchanged line-up. The visitors gave a run out to Robbie King, a recent loan signing from Colchester United, and there was a first league start for Mark Reddaway in midfield with one of last weekend's goalscorers, Daniel Bloomfield, having to be content with a place on the bench.

A disappointing crowd of 346, Horsham's lowest Saturday crowd of the season, assembled on a clear February afternoon with the hosts electing to attack the car park end with the bright sunshine sure to trouble Heybridge 'keeper Danny Gay during the first half but it was the visitors who made the brightest start with Richard Jolly forcing Alan Mansfield into a smart save inside the opening minute. Horsham hit back with a move begun on the left flank by Gary Charman before the ball was eventually fed back to Stuart Myall in the right full-back position. A quick pass enabled Lee Farrell to play a neat one-two with Carney but the on-loan Lewes striker trod on the ball when a shooting chance looked on and the ball was cleared. Jolly's pace was causing problems early on and he was quickly on to a weak backpass from Kevin Hemsley before taking the ball round Mansfield but, forced wide by the Horsham 'keeper, Jolly could only put his shot into the side netting. Heybridge were looking the livelier side in the early exchanges, busily closing down their opponents in midfield and looking to attack down both flanks, and, with Carney understandably struggling to adjust to the pace of the game, the Hornets were struggling to get a foothold in the game. The Swifts were forced to adjust their personnel after just thirteen minutes when the injured Wiles was replaced by Dean Chandler and the substitution was immediately followed by a neat move by the home side that saw Farrell's volley, from John Westcott's far post nod down, blocked by Swifts skipper Ian Cousins. Charman had a firm shot palmed away by Gay, who deserved his luck when the rebound fell just out of reach of the in-rushing Carl Rook, and Cousins again completed the clearance. Five minutes later, the visitors took the lead when Gary Burrell received the ball from a throw-in, turned sharply on the edge of the penalty area and sent an excellent curling shot past Mansfield's despairing dive for his second goal in successive matches.

In a far from physical encounter, the Heybridge physio was kept busy as a number of players sought treatment for knocks and the unfortunate Reddaway was forced to leave the field after just just twenty-six minutes to be replaced by Danny Bloomfield. The scores were level on thirty-two minutes when a right-wing corner was played back out to Westcott by Eddie French and the winger's perfectly flighted cross was met by Charman's thumping header that gave Gay no chance in the visitors' goal. Charman might have grabbed a second, four minutes later, when Lee Farrell held the ball up before finding Westcott whose low cross made its way to Charman at the far post but the Hornets' goalscorer was unable to claim his fifth of the season, dragging his shot inches wide of the upright. The home side had a couple of chances to take the lead before the break with Carl Rook hitting a low twenty-five yarder wide and Charman was unable to take advantage of a mistake by Gay when the goalkeeper's scuffed clearance hit Rook but Charman's instant swivel and shot saw the ball bounce agonisingly wide of the unattended goal. Gay made amends for his aberration when he tipped Charman's scorching drive behind for a corner and, on the stroke of half-time, a strong run out of defence by Nigel Brake gave Rook a shooting opportunity but Danny Barber did well to deny the Horsham man space as the first half ended on level terms.

With the sun beginning to disappear behind the trees, the temperature fell markedly as the players returned for the second half but Mingle's purposeful run warmed the spectators as he drove at the Heybridge defence only to fire his shot over the crossbar. The midfielder came closer to scoring, eight minutes after the restart, when he collected Rook's neat touch and skipped into the penalty area but Gay bravely spread himself to block and Cousins' presence was enough to prevent the impressive midfielder from converting the rebound. Two pieces of play from Rook summed up the former Hastings man's contribution to the side when, first, he got on the end of French's near post flick to send a shot that was deflected away from goal for a corner and then he was back helping out his defence, winning a vital challenge before sending Farrell free down the right. With just Erdem Artun to beat, and the whole of the Heybridge half in which to attack, the on loan striker quickly made in-roads into the penalty area but, cutting inside to shoot, he was dispossessed by Gay's outstretched boot and the danger was averted. The visiting 'keeper was less tested when Farrell picked up Charman's quick throw but his angled shot lacked the necessary pace and was easily fielded by the grateful custodian. Farrell thought he had finally earned a reward for his persistence when Mingle won the ball in midfield and sent the perfect pass through the static defence but the linesman's flag indicated the tightest of offside decisions to cancel out Farrell's tidy finish. A rare shot on goal by Myall showed why the experienced full-back is yet to find the net for the Hornets as his weak right foot shot bobbled apologetically through to Gay before a double substitution saw the ineffective Carney replaced by Matt Geard with Liam White replacing Sean Marks for the visitors.

Cousins was in the right place to deny Charman after the Horsham man had sent in a well executed lob that appeared to be dropping inside the far upright and Rook volleyed wide after a patient build up as the home side continued to dominate proceedings. Jolly proved the visitors' main threat, albeit from the occasional breakaway, but he was well marshalled by the impeccable combination of centre-backs French and Kevin Hemsley. However, Brake had to save his team-mates when Broomfield won his side a corner and White rose highest to send a fine header goalwards that Brake had to head off the line. Encouraged by this unexpected glimpse of goal, the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the half, winning a succession of corners and, when Adam Gillespie turned away from Mingle with just eight minutes remaining and lofted a pass over the top for Broomfield, it looked as if Heybridge might take an unlikely lead. Fortunately for Horsham, the substitute's lob eluded both the advancing Mansfield and the goal to drop behind for a goal kick. Mingle replied by sending a volley over the top but another long pass out of defence sent Jolly away but, having rounded Mansfield on the edge of the area, Hemsley was on hand to shepherd the ball away for a throw. Heybridge's energetic striker was proving a valuable outlet for the visitors, who continued to hit the ball long into the spaces, but French was proving a formidable opponent for the Swifts' leading goalscorer, conceding a corner that he himself cleared. With the clock ticking down, a terrific crossfield pass from Charman began Horsham's best move of the half. With Westcott collecting the ball on the right he elected to cross the ball first time, something he had failed to do with frustrating regularity throughout the game, and Geard arrived to send a header arcing towards the top of the net until Gay threw himself backwards to produce an outstanding save. From the resulting corner, Charman curled a left foot shot just past the far post and, despite frantic efforts to find the winning goal their display had deserved, the visitors defence held firm to ensure both sides had to settle for a point.

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

Heybridge Swifts: 1.Danny Gay 2.Erdem Artun 3.Ian Cousins 4.Adam Gillespie 5.Ian Wiles (Chandler) 6.Danny Barber 7.Mark Reddaway (White) 8.Robbie King 9.Sean Marks 10.Richard Jolly 11.Gary Burrell Substitutes: 12.Daniel Bloomfield 14.Dean Chandler 15.Liam White 16.Jamie Bowyer

Goalscorers:

Horsham - Charman (32)

Heybridge Swifts - Burrell (20)

Attendance - 346