There was little pre-Christmas cheer for the Horsham faithful as they watched their side suffer a first league defeat since October 3rd, going down 2-1 to Aveley in the sides' first meeting in 13 years. A second successive weekend in Essex never looked like reproducing last Saturday's triumph at Canvey Island from the moment Mitch Hahn put Aveley ahead after only 4 minutes. Pat Harding levelled things up during Horsham's best spell of the game but Martin Tuohy claimed the decisive strike before the break and John Maggs' side produced very little quality during a disappointing second half that saw the hosts have further chances to extend their lead.

The afternoon began badly for Horsham after Jack Lyons was forced to pull out of the side with a suspected broken toe but, with the 'big guns' returning after the midweek League Cup loss to Horsham YMCA, Maggs was able to name the same side that had made it 6 league games without defeat with that victory at Canvey.

There was a wintry feel to the afternoon as the two sides entered the arena, greeted by a smattering of applause from the meagre crowd, but the match soon hotted up as Aveley took the game to their opponents and struck first when a slip from James Nicholls was seized upon by Hahn who found the far corner of the net from the edge of the area. Sam Page made the first of several important blocks during the game when he threw his body in the way of Tuohy's goalbound attempt and, with the Horsham defence at sixes and sevens, Sherwin Stanley should have done better when unmarked at the far post.

Tuohy sent a fierce drive narrowly over the top of Craig Bradshaw's goal and the goalkeeper would have been relieved when Ryan Edgar's thunderous free-kick was inches too high, the power of the shot would surely have kept the 'keeper's hands warm for the remainder of the match ! Tuohy was again denied by the Hornets' skipper from close range, after Junior Dadson had given Nicholls the slip, and it wasn't until the midway point of the half that the visitors had their first attempt on goal when Alex Haddow's first time volley whistled over the crossbar following a clever assist from Harding.

Horsham began to put a few passes together as The Millers' threat gradually subsided and the scores were level on half an hour when Lee Carney set up Haddow for a mishit shot that eluded Claude Seanla but fell for Harding who turned and rifled a shot in to the back of the net, despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Ollie Morris-Sanders.

Now it was Horsham's turn to enjoy a good period of possession and a tremendous tackle by Carney in the middle of the park led to another chance for Harding whose shot was well saved. However, the visitors fell behind for the second time when a long diagonal ball out of defence went beyond Ben Andrews and, although Bradshaw did well to push out Stanley's shot, Millers leading scorer Tuohy was on the spot to sidefoot home past Nicholls and Sam Page on the goal-line.

Aveley might have extended their lead during first half injury time when the Hornets were guilty of ball watching and were grateful to Bradshaw who stood up well to deny Dadson at the near post.

H/T Aveley 2 Horsham 1

The second half got off to a slow start but it was the hosts who continued to take the game to their opponents and an angled drive from Ryan Doyle was headed behind his own goal by Andrews before Maggs made a double substitution, just before the hour mark, with Mark Knee and Jorge Lopes replacing Nicholls and Jack Page.

Almost immediately, a quick free-kick from Andrews saw Carney play Harding in on goal but the striker's low shot was saved by Morris-Sanders. Another set-piece, this time taken by Carney, dropped invitingly for Lopes at the far post but the 'keeper got down well to save the substitute's shot and was able to hang on to the ball at the base of the post as Andrews dug the loose ball out of the mud.

Aveley had a golden chance to make it 3-1 when Stanley dispossessed Carney in the centre circle and ran at the defence but, with a three on one advantage in favour of the home side, Stanley's misplaced pass meant the opportunity was lost and the Hornets were able to clear their lines.

Seanla cut a fairly anonymous figure throughout the game and he was unable to add to his season's tally of 11 goals when he hit a pass from Carney over the top. More slack defending from Horsham presented Edgar with an opening but the Aveley number 8 shot wide of the target and Tuohy's low drive was well held by Bradshaw as The Millers looked to settle the match with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The home side were afforded far too much space at times and had the players to exploit the generosity of the under-par Hornets but, thankfully for the visitors, seemed to have forgotten to put their shooting boots on when Hahn received a sweeping pass and got past Knee only to send his effort past the near post.

Che Studhart, on for Stanley, should have made sure of the points on 82 minutes when Edgar got away down the left and sent over the perfect cross but Studhart headed wide of the open goal with Aveley's  small yet vocal group of pre-pubescent supporters ready to squeal their delight at another goal.

Maggs decided on an injection of pace and sent on Tony Nwachukwu for the final moments, in place of Haddow, but the pressure remained on the visitors' goal when Anthony Acheampong lost the ball to Dadson who bore down on goal only for Page to come to his side's rescue once again with a sliding challenge that took the sting off the shot allowing Bradshaw to make a comfortable save.

There was one final chance for the hosts, when Hahn again shot wide, but Aveley held out for a fairly comfortable victory to conclude a frustrating afternoon for Horsham and their band of travelling fans.

NEXT MATCH: v Wealdstone (a) Tuesday 15th December ko 7.30pm