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reporter: Andy Bullock
After 87 minutes, at 4-1
to the home side and with a light mist rising, this bottom of the
table versus 3rd seemed settled until the sole of Simon Austin’s boot
set up an extra time finale of 15 minutes that might have had local
boy Alfred Hitchcock falling off the edge of his Director’s chair.
From the first whistle, Leyton - beginning like a side eager to
implement a game plan, and more eager still to put behind them an
unfortunate 4-0 weekend defeat at Billericay - opted for a high tempo
approach, pressuring Horsham’s possession and disrupting the away
team's respected passing game.
Despite fielding the same side that began for the comprehensive 4-1
home win against Carshalton 3 days earlier, Horsham struggled to cope
against the early aggression and, while possession wasn’t unevenly
shared in the opening quarter, Leyton flustered their visitors who
were unable to find their usual patterns of play and rhythm. Both
sides deployed conventional 4-4-2 formations.
The frenetic pace ensured that play was frequently broken up in the
middle third of the pitch and neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled
until the 20th minute when a ball from left midfield arrived in the
middle of Horsham’s penalty area. The cross fortuitously found Leyton
captain Rio Alderton who appeared to be looking in the general direction
of the corner flag when the ball hit the side of his head, looped over
closely chaperoning Kevin Hemsley and past the waving - but not yet drowning
-
Mansfield.
Horsham sought immediate reparations and only a last gasp block on the
left edge of the penalty area prevented Charman’s powerful drive
from invoicing Jamie Lunan in Leyton’s goal.
Moments later action returned again to Horsham’s goalmouth – again
from play developed down the Leyton left flank – and after a frantic
passage of pass the parcel, Mark Gradosielski found himself facing the
right way and with the ball at his feet; 2-0 to the home side after 23
minutes.
Three minutes later, the ball again arrived in the Horsham net but this
time was disallowed for handball.
Throughout the opening 30 minutes Leyton’s energetic and pacy left
midfielder Stefan Cox greatly troubled Horsham’s right side where
central defender Howard had been commandeered as full back, though it
was far from clear any other options available to manager Maggs would
have fared better. On 34 minutes Cox, getting the better of the
covering Hemsley, found the by-line for the 4th time.
Soon after, Carney arrived just outside the Leyton area, driving a
foot over the bar from 22 yards into the admirable new covered stand,
the finishing of which sees 50% of Leyton's wrap-around stadium complete
- something that must bring considerable joy to the average crowd of
95, although only 66 paid to witness tonight’s fare.
In the 10 minutes before half time Horsham grew to dominate play,
primarily through the right side where John Westcott offered the only
viable outlet for a still frustrated midfield; if it was Leyton’s
intention to close down the Horsham left flank – with pacy and
attack-minded Brake and Charman – the tactics succeeded throughout the
first half. Westcott delivered a cross that Rook didn’t quite get on
top of, Carney a free kick behind the defence that sat up and begged
to be edged home, Carney again with a side foot from 16 yards that the
keeper didn’t need to move for and Howard, after some good running,
also introduced himself to the new stand from 20 yards.
H/T: Leyton 2 Horsham 0
At half time, referee Margetts, perhaps sensing the late night ahead,
developed a calf strain and was replaced by an Assistant Referee, who
was in turn replaced by the ubiquitous man in the crowd. Mr Maggs
generously offered the new referee some guidance before the restart.
The second period began with Leyton keen to repeat the start of the
first but, at 2-0 down, Horsham found greater cause. On 54 minutes,
Westcott delivered a low, hard cross from wide right that scrambled
past Austin and his marker, as well as Charman’s, allowing
Horsham’s number 11 to beat the Leyton keeper comfortably from close
to restore hope; 2-1.
But not for long. Three minutes later Gradosielski drilled his second
of the evening low past Mansfield’s right-side from 23 yards and,
three
minutes on, Alderton was also on a pair when his 25 yarder scorched
past Mansfield’s left-side, this time into the top corner. In neither
case had the scorer troubled by Horsham’s defensive midfield.
Amid the goal frenzy Horsham changed to 3-4-3 – pushing both Charman
up with Rook and Austin, and the under utilised Brake up to left
midfield, but at 4-1 with 22 minutes on the clock, the opportunity to
go to the top of the table had seemingly passed. Leyton responded with
4-5-1.
The match retained the pattern of the first half with early Leyton
pace and aggression slowly yielding to Horsham’s superior all round
game. French was booked on 63 minutes, and shortly after Brake drives
in a free kick from 20 yards.
On 70 minutes, in classic Horsham style, Westcott bewitched his full
back and delivered a perfect cross for Rook who was unfortunate to be
blocked. Rook was even more unfortunate moments later when a powerful
header slammed against the base of the left upright. Leyton were now
reduced to occasional breaks.
Maggs withdrew Howard - replaced by Graves, as well as Brake – perhaps
surprisingly replaced by Salaam. Leyton took off Bricknell - replaced
by Ingram. On 79 minutes, Maggs straight-swapped Carney – who hasn’t
had a happy night – for potential midfield dynamo Stuart Myall.
Horsham continued to press but Leyton retained their defensive shape
until, on 87 minutes, Rook’s cross found an acrobatic Austin’s sole to
make it 4-2. Hemsley now joined as 4th striker as the 90 minute
passed, Charman – now only one of several forwards - calmly slotted
home an incisive ball from the still bustling handful Rook: 4-3 in the
92nd minute.
While the adjoining E10 nightclub might have an Elton John tribute act
playing on Saturday night, Leyton substituted their Rocket Man of the
Match Stefan Cox, and Rook attracted a Yellow Card. Consultations with
assistants, scuffles, injured players and variously opined spectators
joined to test the referee’s mettle. Horsham pressed still further –
notably a Charman header finding the keeper’s embrace – but an hour
after the second period started the final whistle blew and the referee
looked glad to not have been in the middle for both halves.
Horsham do cling on to (joint) third place Leyton are off the bottom.
NEXT MATCH: v Hastings
United (a) Saturday 8th September ko 3.00pm |
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