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Despite the cold weather trying it’s best to disrupt non-league football once again it doesn’t manage to beat everything. We’re still in the part of the season where you constantly need a back up plan to the match you have selected just in case.
However, on Saturday I had already planned on staying local once the last draw for the FA Trophy was made, with Peterborough Sports managed by ex-Bee Michael Gash heading to Sussex and Horsham, nothing else having checked out the fixtures took my fancy so the Camping World Stadium was the destination.
The Hornets have enjoyed their best ever run in the competition this season and with games in hand are in a good position mount a play-off charge over the coming months.
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A crisp Saturday January afternoon was the theme of the day, me layered up and the substitutes also with plenty on, the football on the pitch hopefully enough to keep us warm.
Both sides should have scored within the opening ten minutes, first off Horsham’s Lewis Carey pulling off a fantastic one handed save while at the other end Recce Meekums rattled the crossbar with Peter Crook well beaten.
Sports again should have scored with less than 20 minutes on the clock, Dion Sembie-Ferris reading the through ball superbly but chipped the ball past the on-rushing Carey and the post.
The home side were enjoying the majority of the possession, but Sports made their hosts aware of the counter attack, Sembie-Ferris and skipper Mark Jones linking nicely in pockets across the top of the pitch.
It looked set for a 0-0 scoreline as the half term interval approached but that all changed within seconds. A super ball into the Hornet’s penalty area was made, a great header from Ryan Fryatt, Carey equal in the save but Jones was on hand to slam the ball home from a few yards out.
In the space of three minutes, Horsham found themselves two goals behind, Jordan Nicholson with a vicious shot cannoning back off the crossbar only to land at the feet of Jones who made no mistake for his and Sports second of the game, a comfortable half time scoreline turning into a little bit of a nightmare for the Sussex side.
With the game firmly in the visitors control the next goal became crucial to the final outcome, Horsham replacing an injured centre half with a striker and reverting to three at the back, the possession was all with the hosts but a compact Sports didn’t allow much to break through.
Just after the hour mark Jones completed his hat-trick, turning in Sembie-Ferris’ cross and putting the seal of an afternoon of opportunist goalscoring. There were further chances for Kaine Felix to extend the scoreline, one effort missed the target and Carey keeping out the other, Sports with the edge and a place in the 5th Round.
The Turbines just had that little bit extra you expect at Step 2 and without a good goalscorer yourself it makes the tie that bit harder. Three great pieces of finishing from Mark Jones and of course goals just before half time change the complexion massively.
The Hornets though can be proud of their run in both FA competitions and attention quickly turns back to the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off chase with a visit from Enfield Town also chasing the same prize.
Great to catch up with Hornets boss Dom Di Paola before kick off and Sports player-boss Michael Gash, playing on the right side of a back three, a far cry from his Barnet days scoring goals but telling me it’s the same buzz keeping clean sheets as scoring goals.
Always people to catch up with at games wherever you go across the country such is the beauty of non-league football, fellow blogger and writer Lee Wellings, former Hornets assistant manager Adam Westwood and committee vice chair turned PA announcer Mark Barrett who agreed that little bit extra was there for the visitors.
The Hornets are building a nice club on and off the pitch after years without their own ground and there is room across the facility to expand as time and finances allow to happen. Close eyes are kept on local clubs above them to see how they can improve themselves and be ready when the time arrives for them to step up, a possibility it might happen quicker than they think.
Another crowd approaching the 1000 mark, and great to see so many younger supporters milling around the tunnel area for autographs, it’s the future for these non-league clubs if they want to remain a progressive outfit.
