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Horsham's
impressive pre-season form continued with a comfortable 3-1 win over their
near neighbours.
Hornets
fans would have been surprised to have seen goalkeeper Eric Pudaloff taking
the field in the colours of YMCA, despite having appeared for Horsham in
several of their pre-season games; the 'keeper deciding to join Gary Elliott in making the switch 'over the fence'
after manager John Maggs announced his decision to go with the talents of Gareth Williams and Alan
Mansfield for the forthcoming season. Williams it was who began this game
but, before either custodian could be tested, Tom Graves had to be led from
the pitch following a blow to the head. However, the versatile Graves,
partnering Eddie French in the centre of defence, showed no ill-effects when
he returned to crash home a sixth minute shot to give the Premier Division
side the lead. Matt Geard could have doubled the lead almost immediately
when he volleyed Lewis Taylor's cross wide at the far post and Taylor
himself fired just over after a good move involving John Westcott, Lee
Carney, Taylor and his namesake Jamie.
The
Hornets began in confident style and the hosts, preparing for their debut season in the Ryman League
and having claimed a
penalty-kick victory over an understrength Lewes four days earlier, were
hoping to improve on last weekend's 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Ramsgate
and they did fashion a
couple of half chances that Dean Carden and Dave Gellatly put wide of the
target. They were made to pay after thirty minutes when Carney converted a
downward header past the stationary Pudaloff after Westcott and Jamie Taylor
combined to create the opening. It was an uncharacteristic error from French
that allowed the County League champions back into the match when his
misdirected header wrong footed Williams, leaving Gellatly with the simple
task of rolling the ball into the unguarded net. The Hornets seemed unfazed
by this setback and continued to be the more productive side, in the face of some
robust tackling from Suter's men. Carden's rash challenge left Geard
hobbling for the remainder of the half and, with the absent Gary Charman
already a doubt for next weekend's opening league match, Maggs would have
been holding his breath that he would suffer no further injuries to his
relatively small squad.
Six
minutes before the break, a long throw from Carney was headed on by Lewis
Taylor towards Carl Rook at the far post but his dangerous ball into the six
yard box somehow escaped the telling touch from a Horsham boot and Carney
was again involved, five minutes later, when his great run and drag back on
the right edge of the opponents' penalty area had to be hastily cleared from
under his own crossbar by a YM defender.
During
the interval, Maggs replaced the struggling Geard with Nigel Brake while
Michael Woods took over from Pudaloff in goal.
The second half belonged
almost entirely to the Hornets. Six minutes in, a quick free-kick released
Westcott whose cross was headed wide by Jamie Taylor. This proved to be the
winger's last piece of the action as the Horsham management reshuffled their
line-up with Andy Howard coming on as substitute to partner French with
Graves reverting to right-back and Lewis Taylor moving to right-wing. YM's Richard
Greenfield replaced Ross Shoefield. Chances continued to fall the visitors'
way as, first, Jamie Taylor's chip over the advancing Woods fell narrowly
wide before a goalmouth scramble ended with a shot from Howard being blocked and
then Graves twice went close in the space of sixty seconds. Mo Shuga'a
kicked Jamie Taylor's shot off the line, after being put clear by Andy
Walker, and an explosive shot by Carney cannoned back into play off the
surprised 'keeper who probably didn't even see the shot.
Ex-Hornet
James Grant hit back with a rare effort on the Horsham goal but failed to
test Williams as the ball sailed well over the crossbar and a lob from
similar range by Rook was easily saved by Woods. A minute later, Rook robbed
the full-back but his square pass was just behind Jamie Taylor and the
stretched defence was able to clear. Williams was forced to make his first
save of the match, just four minutes from time, diving low to his right to
repel a long range effort but the Hornets finished in the ascendancy. Rook's
good work was wasted by a hesitant Brake before the striker was presented
with a simple chance to wrap up the scoring in the final minute when Carney
received a fine pass and went past two defenders before unselfishly teeing
up his colleague to score a simple tap-in.
The
Hornets complete their build-up to the new league season when they visit old
friends Leatherhead on Monday night.
Horsham YMCA 1 v Horsham 3
Saturday
12th August 2006
Friendly
reporter:
Jim Bravery
Horsham YMCA: Eric Pudaloff (Woods), Dean Carden, Mo Shuga'a, Ellis Hooper, Rob Mills, Steve Best, Tom White, Dave Gellatly, James Grant, Ross Shoefield (Greenfield), Kevin Keehan (O'Carroll). Subs: Richard Greenfield, Scott Kirkwood, Adam O'Carroll, Michael Woods
Horsham: Gareth Williams, Lewis Taylor, Ian Payne, Eddie French, Tom Graves, Andy Walker, Lee Carney, John Westcott, Jamie Taylor, Carl Rook, Jamie Taylor. Subs: Andy Howard, Owen Botting, Jamie Liddell, Kieran Johnson, Nigel Brake, Alan Mansfield
Goalscorers:
Horsham YMCA - Gellatly (35)
Horsham - Graves (6), Carney (30), Rook (90)
Attendance: TBA