Horsham bounced back from last weekend's FA Cup heartache with this comfortable victory at troubled Margate. Two contrasting goals from Pat Harding, either side of an Alex Haddow penalty, were more than enough to see off the threat of the home side whose lacklustre display earned nothing more than Joe Healy's 88th minute consolation goal to leave them languishing in 21st place, while the Hornets' first success in 5 attempts moves them back in to the top 10 for the first time since late August.

Horsham's victory was even more pleasing for boss John Maggs, achieved as it was without either Lee Carney or Ben Andrews, but the result was tainted by the news that Steve Davies faces up to a month on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury.

"I thought we were good value for the win," admitted Maggs. "I don't think anyone could have had any complaints if we'd have been 3 or 4 goals up at half-time but we lost our shape a bit in the second-half when Steve Davies came off. He's picked up a badly twisted ankle so we could be looking at a month before we get him back again, which is another setback for us, but we can't let that take anything away from what was a very good win. Margate isn't the easiest place to come and get a result and, when you look at their line-up, you wonder why they are struggling but they didn't give us too many problems today. I was delighted with Jack Lyons up front, and Alex Haddow was excellent for us. I've had to give him a bit of a kick up the pants but, all credit to the lad, he's responded very well and showed bags of confidence with the penalty. I know we've got a good side here and we certainly shouldn't be going to Kingstonian on Monday with any fear if we can perform like that again."

Andrews' absence saw Lyons promoted to the attack, a position not unfamiliar to the Eire U19 international during his time at Peterborough United, while Davies replaced Carney in the midfield  meaning it was a youthful bench with teenagers Adam Hutchings, Tony Nwachukwu and Danny Mobsby sat alongside the more experienced Ian Payne and James Nicholls.

Margate were unchanged from the side beaten in extra-time by Sutton United in Tuesday's FA Cup replay and it was they who made the early running after getting the game underway, with the late Summer sunshine in their faces. Louis Smith tried his luck from range but Rob Tolfrey easily collected and, shortly after, a cross from Aaron Lacy found fellow full-back Curtis Robinson unmarked and his header beat the Hornets' 'keeper only to be cleared off the line by Gary Charman.

It was then Horsham’s chance to try their chances from long range as Russell Eldridge blazed over but a fairly incident-free opening half hour came to life when a tantalising run from Haddow teased the Margate defence and, when he found Lyons unmarked, his team-mate's curling shot deceived 'Gate goalkeeper Paul Nicholls who could only palm the ball out to Harding to lash home the rebound from 6 yards.

Horsham nearly suffered a disastrous reoccurrence of their FA Cup tie with Tooting & Mitcham when they almost conceded an equaliser straight from the restart but Healy was unable to direct his header on target. Steve West headed a corner from Wayne Wilson narrowly over the top as the home side showed some signs of recovery but they fell further behind when a high ball from Delando Smith was taken down well by Harding but, as he turned, he was tripped in the box by Jack Haverson and the referee awarded a penalty. With Carney absent, Haddow took on the spot-kick responsibilities and stepped up to convert, calmly passing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal and sending Nicholls the wrong way.

Horsham deservedly had the lead at the interval, despite seeing early chances go begging. Lyons had proven himself up front in the absence of Andrews and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet after his chance that led to the first goal was kept out by Paul Nicholls.

H/T Margate 0 – 2 Horsham

The second half didn’t match the levels of the first as neither side created any chances during the opening exchanges and the first incident of note came with the injury to Davies that saw him replaced by Mobsby on 52 minutes. The first chance of the half fell to Anthony Acheampong on the hour mark, when a short corner from Eldridge saw the big centre half crouching to meet the ball at the near post, but his effort skimmed the upright and hit the advertising boards behind the goal.

Horsham’s next attack led to their third goal of the afternoon but it was a moment to forget for Margate's summer signing, goalkeeper Nicholls, who gifted the visitors possession when his poor clearance fell for Charman. The Blues’ back four failed to deal with the winger’s pace and his ball to Harding was inch perfect, allowing the striker to skip past his marker and unleash a venomous left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Margate came alive in the last 5 minutes and a header from Luke Wheatley was saved by Tolfrey before the best move of the match produced a fine consolation goal. Quick fire, one touch passing, which began and ended with Healy, found the Margate front man unmarked on the edge of the box and he thumped the ball past Tolfrey for Margate's first against their Sussex opponents in 2 1/2 years.

Only a superb diving save from Tolfrey prevented substitute Sammy Cliff from setting up a grandstand finish from long range and the Hornets saw out the closing moments without further scare to make it 5 wins in a row against Terry Yorath's men and will hope to take this form into Monday night's tricky looking contest at Kingstonian.

NEXT MATCH: v Kingstonian (a) Monday 21st September ko 7.45pm