Match Reports
16/02/08
Horsham 3s 3-4 Men's 4th XI
The Super 4s super run continued with a hard fought victory over bottom of the league strugglers Horsham.
Brighton were out for revenge after Horsham had stolen victory at their place earlier in the season in a game Brighton should have won. But it was a weakened Brighton team that lined up on Saturday afternoon with Monsieur Yann and Bondy both unavailable and Potter and Graham continuing their run in the 3s.
Up came some reservists with College answering the call with his service revolver well oiled and his stick ready to charge the Horsham ranks.
The game followed a familiar pattern for the 4s recent outings with them dominating the first half.
Some great passing and moving orchestrated by the uber maestro Ade in the middle of the park had Horsham at sixes and sevens.
Tosh then surprised the Horsham defence and his own team mates by going on a crazy mazy run, beating man after man to find himself at the top of the D and the goal at his mercy, a rifled shot low and hard was too much for the Horsham goal guardian and Brighton were 1 up.
Horsham showed glimpses of good play but all to often the last ball was wayward or Ready was there to shepherd it away from danger. Brighton continued to press with Lees marauding up the wing. I’ll just type that again, with Lees marauding up the wing. Ridiculous.
Dan Benson was the next to impress in the D when he beat two men to find himself on his reverse side, he went for the toughest shot in the book and from an impossible angle beat the ‘keeper to give Brighton a two nil lead. That’s two in two for hustling striker who has impressed in his outings for the 4s.
Ready also had a “moment” and whilst all seemed well passed the ball to Horsham and collapsed in slo-mo to the ground like a premiership footballer, no one, least of all Ready, seemed to understand what had happened. Still, no lasting damage, thankfully.
Again Brighton were on top and there was even time for College to control an aerial ball with accomplished skill only to stuff up the pass and mid swing shout “SORRY!!!” to all. Hehe. It’s these little things that make it all worthwhile.
Matt Harding also scored another classic goal. I think most of you will be ahead of me here but from ball to goal the distance was exceedingly short. A goal mouth scramble ended with Matt stretching and stroking the ball with the coat of varnish on his stick and as he fell backwards the ‘keeper decided to leave the ball and it dribbled over the line, barely. Matt was confused as he stared skywards and presumed the goal had been saved but eagle eyed Begs had seen the ball cross the line and Brighton were 3 up and coasting.
As usual Brighton came out the second half and played like a different team. A team of idiots. Panic set in at the back and the midfield went AWOL. Horsham also introduced a couple of skilful battling Springboks who began to run the show.
Horsham quickly grabbed one back when their skilful central midfielder scored direct from a short corner passed the ailing Brooksy and Lees.
Horsham quickly came again and their bowling ball of a Springbok bouldered his way into the D and unleashed a stinger of a drive which was well saved by Brooksy’s stick. From the ensuing corner and attack an unmarked Horsham striker was able to finish from close range and Horsham were within one. Cue young CJ to get us out of gaol by finishing coolly at the back post to restore the lead. Things though continued to fall apart though as Horsham sensed Brighton were crumbling. Their young nipper drew a foul in the D as was able to convert with a great drag flick into the top corner to set up a barn storming finish as short corner followed short corner.
Mild mannered Chris Perry also got into a little bit or argy-bargy with a Horsham Springbok which, for his own safety, was calmed down by umpire Beglin. Good to see some fight for the young lad though.
Brighton were able to hold on and another 3 points were won and the unbeaten sequence extends to 5 and at last Brighton have moved up the table to 6th but with league leaders by a country mile Worthing 3s next up it’s going to be a tough test to maintain that sequence.