Report

Another tough midweek experience

Horsham 5 Enfield Town 2

Town conceded five for the first time since April 2018, but with a second half chastening handed out by the opposition for the second successive Tuesday night.

The visitors had recovered well from the blow of conceding in the first ten minutes to lead at half time. But the defensive frailties which had dogged them at Bishop’s Stortford seven days earlier reappeared after the break.

Missing influential midfielder Scott Thomas through work commitments and still without striker Shaun Okojie, Town began brightly and forced a couple of corners. But a ninth minute through ball from Tom Day split the visitors’ rearguard and fell to Chris Smith, who fired past the exposed Nathan McDonald. It was, nevertheless, end-to-end stuff at this stage, although a last ditch tackle from Josh Urquhart prevented further damage. After McDonald had saved from Rob O’Toole, Lewis Taylor fired over when well placed.

Horsham gradually gained control, with McDonald punching clear acrobatically at full stretch and then saving impressively from Will Miles’ header. Ten minutes before the break Percy Kiangebeni’s effort was saved comfortably by home keeper Brad House. A Charlie Harris free kick wasn’t too far away but then Town delivered a double sucker punch as the hosts began to wind down for the half- time break.

Firstly, Larry Asare and Kiangebeni combined to set up Jon Muleba to charge down the right, and then his low cross was converted at the near post by Sam Youngs, despite the ball being slightly behind him. The travelling contingent were then delighted by a long, curling free kick from Lyle Della-Verde being headed past House by Billy Bricknell to stun the Hornets.

Half-time: Horsham 1 Enfield Town 2

Alas, Town couldn’t capitalise on the position they had found themselves in after 45 minutes, and the scores were level eight minutes into the second period. After some wizardry from Della-Verde had fashioned a cross which was just too high for Urquhart, a familiar-looking break from the hosts ended with Reece Hall playing the ball in from the left and finding former Worthing and Bognor man Harvey Sparkes to sidefoot home.

Smith fed O’Toole on 67 minutes, and the latter placed his shot just beyond the far post. But Town supporters were biting back their disappointment as a promising move involving Muleba and Della-Verde broke down, the ball was shifted quickly towards the opposite end and moved from Day on the left to Taylor on the right for Harris to fire home crisply from 25 yards.

Substitute Jared Small found Junior Mubiayi, who looped a header over the top and then Bricknell’s back heel was kept out low down by House. But the feeling of déjà vu continued as, with the visitors pressing in numbers, a corner was cleared at speed leaving a three-on-three situation and Harris drilled the ball past McDonald at an acute angle to kill off all Town’s hopes. An icing on-the-cake hat-trick was claimed by Harris with an added time strike which went in off a post to confirm Horsham’s first league win of the season.

Horsham: Brad House, Tom Day, Harvey Sparks, Charlie Harris, Will Miles, David Ray (Dylan Merchant 73), Rob O’Toole, Lewis Taylor, Reece Hall, Chris Smith (Gary Charman 81), Jerry O’Sullivan. Unused: Steve Metcalf, Lee Harding, Jim Punter.

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Lee Chappell (Junior Mubiayi 78), Ryan Blackman, Jeremiah Gyebi, Josh Urquhart, Larry Asare (Lewis Taaffe 61), Percy Kiangebeni, Billy Bricknell, Sam Youngs, Lyle Della-Verde (Jared Small 78). Unused: Adam Pepera, Marc Weatherstone. Booked: Blackman, Gyebi, Small.

Attendance: 462.

Details

Date Time League Season
06/10/2020 7:45 pm Pitching In Isthmian League Premier 2020-21

Ground

The Camping World Community Stadium
The Camping World Community Stadium, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0AD

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Horsham145
Enfield Town202

Past Meetings

1 - 4
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier
2019-20

Enfield Town vs Horsham


KO 45 60 77 77 80 86 FT