TT MATCH VERDICT

Pete Wade

Pete reports back from Horsham

HORSHAM FC 2-1 AFC TORQUAY UNITED- NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – 23.08.25

SUMMARY

Where to start with this little horror show! I opted to go to the Fusion Aviation Stadium in West Sussex as part of a weekend trip. The ground is not really Horsham as it’s in the countryside, across the road from the town’s park and ride. Now where does that remind me of in Cornwall? It was an early start by train thanks to SWRs dog’s breakfast of a timetable to Salisbury, starting with the 6.54 from Starcross. All that got me into Horsham at 13.11, with a pleasant two mile walk ahead of me.

Arriving at the ground which (and I know I shouldn’t say this) makes you think why are we playing at grounds like this. It’s new, tidy but not unlike the Devon FA ground on the Coach Road with a couple of bits of covered standing. I fell into conversation with two chaps who wondered why I was making notes, so when I told them they were very complimentary about TorquayTalk. We chatted about a recent Tweet about the ground selling beer to home fans at £5 a pint and to away fans at £6.50. They were less bothered about that than the fact it was flat.

Any way on to the match: to say it was a slow start would be putting it mildly as we ought to have been two down in four minutes. But we got going and began to control a game against a team who wanted to play. Young Phillips got a couple of good crosses in which Cooke could not quite get on the end of. Paul Wotton was not happy complaining at the players constantly. To be fair Young’s crosses were awful. Then on half time the ref bought a dive on the edge of the box and a Horsham fella stuck it in the bottom corner. 1-0.

We had been blunt in the first half, mainly in control but we didn’t look like scoring. Strong words in the dressing room were needed as we lost too many of those battles that managers like to talk about.

We looked brighter as the new half started and Worthington even had a shot, a weak one, but a shot. For some reason the ref started to book people in a game with no real edge to it. 13 minutes into the second half a whole raft of substitutes began as the booked Sundire was removed for Hayfield and four more followed not long after. We huffed and puffed and going into the last ten minutes our better fitness began to tell. On 88 minutes Hamon took a free kick out wide on the left, Crosbie flicked it on and Palmer, running across the goal volleyed in thunderbolt. The large Gulls support, quietened by the lacklustre display were excited at last. 1-1.

The 7 minute injury time board gave hope of a winner, but no. A thump forward saw new man Denzel try a back pass to Hamon, but it was both short and bouncing and gave him no chance as the Horsham lad nipped in and walked it into the open goal. 2-1.

Probably no more than they deserved but we were poor, not enough energy or desire and too many missed places passes. One suspects Tuesday took a lot out of us, but hopefully we will be better versus Dover on Monday.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 6

3. FOULSTON – 5

26. THOMAS – 6

4. DYER – 5

5. DREYER – 6

18. WORTHINGTON – 5

6. SUNDIRE – 6

12. PHILLIPS – 6

27. JAY – 5

8. YOUNG – 4

9. COOKE – 4

SUBS

16. Palmer – 6

20. HAYFIELD – 5

15. CROSBIE – 5

7. DENNIS – 5

2. AKYEAMPONG – 4

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – MUNASHE SUNDIRE

Tough decision, no one really at the races.

TACTICS

Began with usual 4-2-3-1 but Young kept coming in off his wing and Phillips stayed wide and forward which exposed Foulston. With 5 subs on it became more of a 4.4.2 with Crosbie and Dennis up top. We went a little long but as Horsham faded and dropped deeper it worked as with the goal. Just not enough creativity. If we play Jay we have to find a way to get him into the game.

OPPOSITION

First proper passing team we have played and it caused us problems as they did get at us on the break. Played quite well but we needed to be stronger as physicality will tell against them I suspect. Also flagged towards the end but better than us on the day.

THE OFFICIALS

Had that silly run that refs with high aspirations have when the run with their toes pointing down. Either that or he does/did ballet. Decent first half but it wasn’t hard to referee as there was little nastiness. Should have booked Horsham no.4 for two late tackles from behind. Then in the second half he started booking people for no obvious reason. Sundire and their no.2 were booked for very little, but overall okay

CONCLUSION

Overall it was disappointing obviously. Loath to say they needed to try harder but Paul Wotton was screaming at them to get higher and work harder. Nice two mile walk after to catch my train. £3.50 for a programme, really? It’s okay but not special. Printers must be expensive in Sussex if that is necessary!

On to Dover at Plainmoor on Monday – get at them lads!