Horsham supporters have a new hero after watching their side achieve a comfortable 2-0 victory against perennially troublesome Harrow Borough. Exactly 45 years ago to the day, Mick Browning was helping himself to all 4 goals as Harrow were beaten at Queen Street in an Athenian League clash and, although its unlikely that Claude Seanla will reach the same legendary status as the one-time England Amateur International, the striker is fast becoming a firm favourite with the Horsham followers. His second goal of the season, just days after his match-winning strike against Sutton United, provided the Hornets with the perfect platform from which to secure back-to-back successes against their Middlesex opponents for the first time since 1968.

Browning, current Chairman at Horsham YMCA, was among the shirt-sleeved crowd at Gorings Mead and he would have been impressed by the former Tottenham man's contribution to Horsham's impressive first half display and who, with greater luck, might have finished the match with a hat-trick. Twice he was denied by fine saves from Harrow goalkeeper Andray Baptiste during an opening half that the Hornets dominated. However, it wasn't until the 65th minute that Anthony Acheampong secured the points when he converted a Russell Eldridge corner and although the visitors applied some late pressure, the Horsham defence stood firm to move into eighth place in the early season league table.

John Maggs kept with the same side that had served him well against Dartford and Sutton, although Pat Harding's recovery from a virus enabled him to replace Ian Payne on the subs' bench, while Harrow skipper Wayne Walters made his first appearance of the season at the expense of Lee Hall and Kenta Nakashima was dropped to the bench in favour of recent signing Jonathan Hunt, the former Birmingham City, Derby County and Sheffield United striker.

The players took to the field in brilliant sunshine and the afternoon was to get even better for the home side when Seanla struck after just three minutes. Harrow, who went behind in Monday's match with Kingstonian after just fifteen seconds, were caught napping again when a superb run from Alex Haddow took him to the heart of the Harrow defence where Walters' attempts to thwart him only succeeded in sending the ball out wide to Seanla who fired home a first time shot inside Baptiste's near post. Only a marginal offside decision prevented Ben Andrews from cashing in on Mark Knee's cross but Seanla knows he should have extended the hosts' lead on thirteen minutes when Eldridge ran on to his own pass before teeing up his team-mate in front of goal. The goalscorer's decision to take a touch before shooting proved crucial as Baptiste raced from his line to make a brave smothering save.

Andrews and Haddow then combined with the latter clipping in a volley that threatened to wrong foot the 'keeper after deflecting off a defender but Dewayne Clarke reminded Horsham of the visitors' threat when he pounced on brief indecision on the edge of the Hornets' penalty area and curled a shot over the crossbar. Eldridge did the same at the other end, from a well worked free-kick involving Lee Carney and Gary Charman, and Andrews kept up the pressure when Walters slipped and the former Worthing man cut inside Charlie Wassmer to drill a fierce effort narrowly past the far post.

Seanla was sent clear again, five minutes from the break, by a terrific pass from Charman but once again the Horsham man was denied by Baptiste before Kwasi Frempong was lectured by referee Butler for a strong challenge on Carney. There was a scare for the Hornets before the break when a casual clearance from Rob Tolfrey was charged down by the much-travelled Rocky Baptiste but the relieved 'keeper's blushes were saved when he recovered to gather the ball  before it crossed the line.

H/T Horsham 1 Harrow Borough 0

The visitors began the second half in determined fashion and Hunt had already set up Dean Fenton for an unsuccessful shot at goal when a pass from Baptiste enabled Clarke to race clear of the defence but Tolfrey was alert to the danger and raced quickly from his line to make a good block with his legs and Hunt blasted the loose ball wide. Walters executed the perfect tackle to prevent Seanla from shooting at goal after some great wing play by Haddow and Harrow boss David Howell, sensing his side needed a lift, sent on Warren Whitely and Jake Lovell in place of Fenton and Rocky Baptiste.

Fine approach play from Carney, Seanla and Andrews saw the latter send in a dangerous cross that was punched clear of the onrushing Haddow by Baptiste but the former Grenada International 'keeper was powerless to prevent the Hornets from extending their lead on 65 minutes. Seanla's tenacity earned his side a corner and, when Eldridge's near post cross went over the head of Andrews, Tony Acheampong was on hand to side foot the ball in to the back of the net for a soft goal from the visitors' point of view.

After the midweek debacle of twelve yellow cards dished out by referee Brook, it was refreshing to see this match sensiblly officiated by Mr Butler but even he had to deliver a caution when Simon Dahl scythed down Charman in full flight for the game's first booking on 66 minutes.

Seanla had earned himself an early rest and he was replaced by Harding for the final twenty minutes, to enthusiastic applause from the Horsham faithful, but there were concerns for Charman when he was led from the pitch after taking a heavy blow to the back with Jack Lyons coming on in his place.

Harrow's own substitutions injected some urgency in to the visitors' play and Whitely tested Tolfrey from distance with a low volley before Lovell produced a shot out of nothing that shaved the upright with six minutes remaining. It was all hands on deck now as the home side saw out the remaining minutes but James Fraser should have given Harrow a lifeline when, unmarked, he found himself on the end of Hunt's precise chip but blazed hastily over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

Whitely forced Tolfrey in to a spectacular one handed save, pushing the substitute's rising 25 yarder round the post as the match entered three additional minutes, and Walters was unable to supply the finish at the death when he headed wide from the resulting corner and the points were Horsham's.

NEXT MATCH: v Tonbridge Angels (a) Tuesday 25th August ko 7.45pm