Hastings United Horsham game 26 October 2013

Horsham, Round Two

Saturday 26 October 2013

Hastings United 2-1 Horsham

After a controversial affair exactly a week ago, Horsham came back to the Pilot Field for the second time in seven days. Last week had goals, comebacks, thunder strikes, red cards and many talking points. 137 more people attended the second game than the first, expecting another controversial affair with many talking points. During midweek, Horsham did United a favour somewhat, by defeating league leaders Walton Casuals preventing them from going four clear at the top. If United got even a point today and the Casuals lost, they’d go top. Liam Willis reports.

Horsham saw more of the ball in a very quiet opening ten minutes, but the first shot of the game came from United’s number 11, Bailo Camara. However the United forward dragged his shot wide from twenty-five yards. Horsham looked comfortable on the ball, much like last week, and had numerous chances. Dunn’s cross flashed wide of Pelling’s goal – a touch could’ve given Horsham the lead. United must have been blessed by something or other – Gabriel Odunake was fed a ball and went clean through the defence. His initial shot was well saved  by Pelling and Gabriel passed to Dunn for the second attempt, but he couldn’t make a connection with the ball even with the goal at his mercy.

Horsham took a well deserved lead just before half time and it gave them a lift. Nwachukwu skinned Fobi-Edusei with ease down the right hand side and a pass to Odunaike allowed him to rolled the ball past a beaten Pelling. Just before the break, Bailo Camara had a go for United, which was well saved by a relieved Hunter in goal. The second half also started slow, with little worth mentioning until United equalised on fifty-five minutes through Tim Olorunda. Sam Adams corner was met by the head of Olorunda. With a sting to Hunter’s fingertips, the Horsham number 1 couldn’t block the power from the header and the ball trickled over the line.

United seemed to pile on the pressure soon after Tim’s goal. Kenny Pogue thought he put United ahead on sixty-three minutes, but the linesman had other ideas and raised his flag, much to the displeasure of the United faithful. United compensated for the disallowed goal only three minutes later, when they took the lead. Danny Ellis put a hopeful ball into the box and King put a desperate foot to the ball, but could only turn it past fellow team-mate in goal, Hunter, to give United the lead. Jamie Cade provided a threat against United for the second week in a row, Cade was released with a great ball which saw him with just Pelling to beat. Cade’s shot was brilliantly saved by Pelling, who put one arm in the air to stop the ball floating over him. From the resulting drop kick, Hunter was forced to save  a drilled shot by Sam Adams straight towards the top corner.

Hastings United v Horsham 26 October 2013

Horsham applied lots of late pressure and showed United that they were more than capable of getting an equaliser, but time ran out and United had the three points. Walton Casuals also came from behind to beat Ramsgate and remain at the top of the league by a point. Tooting and Mitcham also thumped Whitstable Town 5-0.

United starting XI: Pelling, Gilbert, Fobi-Edusei, Darby, Judge, Hare, Ellis, Olorunda, Pogue, Adams, Camara.

Subs: Cumming-Bart, Woodley, Corrigan, Cruttwell, Richardson.

Horsham starting XI: Hunter, Hamilton, B King, J King, Charman, Marriott, Nwachukwu, Harris, Dunn, Cade, Odunaike.

Subs: Morley, Kaffo, Varley, Blaney.

Liam Willis is also Hastings United Programme Co-Editor

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