Horsham 0 Herne Bay 2: Hornets' defence fail to stop two-goal Pulman

The visiting marksman twice got the better the home defence by running through it unchallenged before scoring well-taken individual goals, one in each half.

Hornets fielded an unchanged side from last Saturday’s successful 4-1 winning line-up at Chatham Town.

Good work by Darren Boswell and Tony Nwachukwu nearly set-up striker Alfie Rogers for a chance but he could not connect with Nwachukwu’s cross from the right.

Herne Bay should have done better when Mark Lovell was put through for a shot, which he lifted over the bar.

The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when Pulman went on a run towards the area from the right flank and was not properly challenged before he unleashed a well-taken shot into the net.

Horsham created their first definite chance to score after 34 minutes when Darren Boswell’s cross was headed on by Alfie Rogers to Nwachukwu to head towards goal, an effort which forced visiting keeper Jack Delo to make a full-length diving save to keep out.

Hornets boss made his first substitution early in the second half with the appearance off the bench of right-back Alex Duncan.

Herne Bay made it in similar style to their first on 59 minutes. Again it was Pulman who sped through the midfield and was not challenged by the Horsham defence before firing into the net.

Horsham responded by bringing on Ashley-Paul Robinson for Taser Hassan to add power to the attack.

Hornets had chances to pull a goal back, the first Steve Metcalf from the edge of the area was caught by Delo.

Good work by Robinson in which he showed a nice touch before shrugging off the close attention of an opponent before finding Nwachukwu, who then headed over the bar.

Horsham had more of the ball at times and although they created some good moves, were not able to put the visiting keeper under pressure to get something out of the game.

Horsham: Pelling, Metcalf, Thurgar (Duncan 53), Hunt, Jones (capt), Farmer, Kirkwood, Hassan (Robinson 64), Rogers (Wright 80), Nwachukwu, Boswell

Unused subs: Branford, Clark, Wright

Herne Bay: Delo, M.Turner, Sayer, Gorham, Quinn (capt), Wiese (Adebayo 81), Woolcott, J.Turner, Williams, Lovell, Pulman (Mansaray 90)

Unused subs: Mansaray, Afoke, Wood

Referee: Matthew Lee

Attendance: 245