Horsham made light of a number of key absentees to avenge their August defeat at the Pilot Field with an excellent 4-2 victory over 2nd placed Hastings, putting a dent in the visitors' exceptional away record. Lee Carney (bruised foot), Delando Smith (hamstring), Mark Knee (chest) and Steve Sargent and Jack Lyons (both on holiday) were all missing from the side that had won at Tooting last time out and, in debutant Craig Bradshaw, fielded a 5th different goalkeeper in successive matches. But, on a pudding of a pitch, John Maggs' side displayed their new found resolve to recover from going a goal behind to take a 3-1 lead and withstand a late onslaught from the visitors to record a 4th successive league victory that moves them up 4 places to 8th in the Ryman Premier Division.

Having suffered a couple of recent postponements, both sides were keen to get back in to the action quickly so it was with some relief that the Gorings Mead pitch passed a morning inspection although it was a disappointing crowd of 329 that were in attendance for this all-Sussex encounter. There was added interest in the fixture with Russell Eldridge making his first return to the club since rejoining the Arrows last month, alongside another former Hornet Lee Carey, while new signings Jorge Lopez and Tom Lyons were on the home bench.

Horsham began the match with Ben Andrews restored to the line-up following suspension and he made up the centre-half pairing with skipper Sam Page, Tony Acheampong moving across to full-back, and HISC Player of the Month Gary Charman taking up a position behind strikers Claude Seanla and Pat Harding.

There were encouraging signs for the hosts early on when Charman and Jack Page exchanged sharp passes but Page's effort on goal lacked conviction and flew harmlessly over the top. Seanla then sent in a dangerous cross that was well cleared before Eldridge reintroduced himself to Steve Davies with a late challenge that earned a lecture from referee Tranter. Not for the first time, though, it was a Horsham man whose name was first in the referee's notebook for going in with his studs on Tim Olorunda. Sam Adams shot wide and Olorunda should have done better than mirror his teammate's effort after Davies was dispossessed in midfield.

A slip from Steve Elliott presented another chance for Jack Page but Greg Nessling remained untroubled in the Hastings goal and, when play switched to the other end, Andrews bravely got his face in the way of Nathan Russell's goalbound header from Eldridge's inswinging corner to ensure that the game stayed goalless. However, the stalemate would last just a few more minutes as Hastings surged ahead, thanks to their leading scorer. A Horsham attack broke down, deep in the visitors' half, and Eldridge led a quick counter-attack, switching the ball across field to Adams who played in the overlapping Carey to hit a cross shot that was turned in by Ade Olorunda for his 12th of the season.

Horsham had a great chance to equalise within a minute when Sean Ray's misdirected header fell kindly for Seanla, wide on the left, and his driven cross was missed by Harding only for Jack Page, following in at the far post, to find the side netting from 8 yards. A timely intervention from Davies saved the hosts from falling further behind but the chances continued at the other end with Charman's first time volley deflected wide  although his next effort, from the resulting corner, was not so close and went well wide.

The Hornets had a lucky escape when Eldridge let the ball run under his foot when in a wonderful position to surely double Hastings' advantage but, if the visitors were frustrated by that piece of misfortune, they were apoplectic with rage in the game's big talking point five minutes from the break. What looked to be a well-timed tackle on Seanla on the edge of the penalty area was interpreted differently by Mr Tranter who appeared, at first, to signal a free-kick to the Hornets. Instantly surrounded by disapproving Hastings players, the referee then stunned the visitors by pointing to the penalty spot to their obvious dismay. Unperturbed by the commotion, Seanla stepped up to beat Nessling from 12 yards to level the scores. Chaotic scenes followed as rival supporters exchanged words and a member of the Arrows' management team was sent to the stands while several players received lengthy lectures for their protestations from Mr Tranter.

With the match finally underway once more, the Arrows were awarded a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the Horsham penalty area but Eldridge's curling effort was spectacularly headed clear by the diving Andrews. Ironically, the hosts were to edge themselves in front during the additional time added on for Hastings' earlier protests and no-one was to dispute the validity of Harding's' superb strike, controlling Acheampong's pass and turning to hit a thumping drive past Nessling at his near post to give the Hornets a 2-1 advantage at the break.

H/T Horsham 2 Hastings United 1

Hastings returned with renewed determination after the break and Bradshaw stood up well to repel a fierce shot from Eldridge and, from the subsequent corner, the former Leatherhead goalkeeper was in the right place to collect as Michael Phillips attempted to deflect Ade Olorunda's low shot in to the net. Olorunda tried to punish some sloppy Horsham defending but was frustrated as his snapshot drifted beyond the far post but, despite their promising start, the visitors were to fall further behind to the Hornets' first attack of the half. James Nicholls brought the ball out of defence, finding Alex Haddow who cleverly  sent Harding away behind the Hastings defence and his perfect cut back was met confidently by Seanla who gave the 'keeper no chance, sending his sidefooted shot in to the far corner.

Jack Page became the second home player cautioned for 'studs up', this time on Jimmy Elford, and Bradshaw gave signs of his ability as he tipped over Nathan Russell's towering header from Eldridge's testing delivery. But it was another foul that presented Hastings with a lifeline on 58 minutes when Charman was harshly penalised and Carey curled a fine free-kick past the unsighted Bradshaw to make it 3-2.

A rare slip from the immaculate Sam Page saw Eldridge get to the byeline before playing the ball into the near post where yet more terrific defending from Andrews kept out Ade Olorunda, at the expense of another corner, and the former Worthing man was on the spot again to deny the lively Upton as Hastings continued to search for the equalising goal that might extend their unbeaten run to a 7th game. But it was a fantastic intervention from Ray that stopped Harding from extending Horsham's lead, the defender executing the perfect tackle inside the box as the striker shaped to shoot on goal.

The excitement continued with another tremendous Horsham attack in which Seanla raced at the Arrows defence before laying the ball out wide to Haddow and only Carey's incredible goal-line clearance from the winger's whipped cross kept the single goal margin between the sides. From the corner, Nessling was alert to prevent Charman's far post header from being turned in by Harding. Eldridge continued to supply a number of dangerous free-kicks in to the Horsham box and, when Haddow had clumsily brought down his former team-mate on the right edge of the area, Eldridge's delivery was met powerfully by Ray whose header whistled inches over the crossbar.

Almost immediately, Seanla latched on to Andrews' long ball out of defence to outpace his marker but his scuffed his shot made for an easy save for Nessling. That missed opportunity was soon forgotten, though, as Horsham grabbed their fourth to finally put the game beyond their opponents. Some neat trickery from Haddow down the left flank saw him cleverly beat Steve Elliott to give himself the space to pick out Seanla at the far post and Harding smashed home his strike partner's 'assist'.

The rain began to fall as this pulsating match entered the closing stages and Steve Elliott used the wet conditions perfectly to produce a magnificent sliding tackle on Charman as goal number 5 beckoned. To their credit, Hastings continued to apply pressure on Bradshaw's goal and Tim Olorunda went close with a low shot before manager Tony Dolby threw on the experienced Rhys Whybourne and Scott Ramsey for the final minutes. The outstanding Andrews made yet another goalline clearance after Bradshaw had been beaten by Eldridge's free-kick and, as the Hornets packed their own penalty area to defend another dead ball situation, Carey's effort was charged down and Eldridge smashed the loose ball in to the face of Sam Page who heroically spread himself to block.

Four minutes of injury time was met with disbelief by the Horsham faithful but there were no further threats on either goal and the match ended with an unsavoury confrontation between both sets of players after Jack Page appeared to catch Tim Olorunda on the arm.

NEXT MATCH: v Hendon (a) Tuesday 1st December ko 7.45pm