Match Report: The Terror  ........Nigel Wood is on holiday

Saturday 12th Spetember 2009

The Terrors

4 - 2

Horsham

P Vines(5), Parker(65), York(90+3 pen), Byatt (90+4) GOALS Andrew(29), Eldridge(63)
1 King  
2 Hamlin
3 Byatt
4 Nelson  
5 Vines J  
6 York  
7 Hartburn s12
8 Goode  
9 Vines P  
10 Parker  
11 Pitterson s14
12 McLeod s
14 Henry s74m
15 Heverin  
16 Clayton  
17    
An injury time moment of madness from Hornets keeper Rob Tolfrey handed Terrors their ticket into the second qualifying round when a replay at Gorings Mead had looked a certainty.

In the second minute of stoppage time the keeper beat Jason Henry to the ball, gathering it and smothering the diminutive striker in the process. As he regained his feet he glanced down at the prone forward and appearedt to deliberately place his foot into the players back.  It was in no way dangerous or violent, but was most certainly deliberate.  However, it was not until Tolfrey had run beyond the edge of his area without having released the ball that referee Bentley finally blew his whistle.  Terrors fans feared that only the handball offence would be punished and it was some moments, following a prolonged consultation with his linesman, before the referee finally pointed to the spot and dismissed the offender.  

Tooting had started brightly, with a couple of early cameos from Paul Vines look-alike Simon Parker, who was making his debut.  But it was the original version who opened the scoring with another of those long range looping headers that are becoming a club trademark this season, with Jamie Byatt the provider on another accomplished afternoon for the busy one.

Imperial Fields is a happy hunting ground for Horsham, indeed they have never lost there and the Hornets were not about to give up this record without a fight.  First danger came from a free kick after a quarter of an hour that required Aaron Goode to recall his defensive days and head a goal bound shot away for a corner.  A couple more warning were posted before Dave King lost his hold on the ball when tidying up from a corner presenting Andrew with the simplest of chances to equalise.
Tolfrey 1
  Smith 2
  Knee 3
  Acheampong 4
  Page 5
  Carney 6
  Eldridge 7
  Charman 8
Andrew 9
  Harding 10
  Haddon 11
  Page J 12
  Lyons 14
  Mobsby 15
  Nwanchukwa 16
  Payne 17
  Hutchings 18
  Seuke GK

 Mitch Nelson and Paul Vines did their best to restore the lead straight away, but the Terrors were rattled and seemed to loose their way. Even so,  just before the interval there was a strong penalty shout when Parker was pushed to the floor in the six yard box by the otherwise massively impressive Acheampong,  However, the officials were (quite reasonably) unsighted and nothing was given. 

Half Time: Terrors  1-1  Horsham

Possibly aware of Hornets half time turnaround last week, Tooting opened strongly with Pitterson and Goode working well to provide an early opening for Paul Vines.  Jamie Byatt, again full of purpose, combined well with Parker and even Joe Vines moving forward to lend a hand. Unfortunately the commitment to attack was leaving gaps at the back which the visitors exploited to devastating effect by breaking down their right flank into the space behind the wingback and cutting in  to slide a low shot across King and take the lead.

Stung by this sucker punch Terrors fought back and within minutes Simon Parker capped his debut with a tidy finish to a nice set up from Paul Vines. Visiting fans were unhappy that the game had not been stopped for an alleged head injury to Carney.

Tails were now well and truly up as both sides looked to deliver the knock-out blow. Vines and York both had half chances before the weakness at the back was again exposed, this time ending in a misdirected header.  A route one move then brought a smart save from King from Hardings shot.

Tolfreys final rational act was to push a Janie Byatt shot onto the post seven minutes from time.  Hornets were able to call  Cup hero keeper Paul Seuke off the bench to face Matt Yorks spot kick, but he had no chance with it.  Further still into stoppage time Parker and Byatt crowned fine individual performances when Simon slipped a slide rule pass across the six yard line for the gleeful Busy to ram home the final goal. 
Attendance:  346  Referee:  I Bentley

 View from the other end