Horsham suffer a spot of Car trouble in Surrey

A soggy night at Colston Avenue ended in defeat as Carshalton Athletic showed their clinical edge while the Hornets were left cursing their luck.
Charlie Harris scored from the spot late on at Carshalton / Picture: John LinesCharlie Harris scored from the spot late on at Carshalton / Picture: John Lines
Charlie Harris scored from the spot late on at Carshalton / Picture: John Lines

An own goal from Tom Day opened the scoring for the hosts in the 11th minute before the Robins doubled their lead thanks to another own goal, this time courtesy of Rob O’Toole.

Despite the Hornets dominating the majority of the first half, they went into the break behind before Carshalton extended their advantage even further when Omar Koroma’s strike squirmed under Brad House in the second half.

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Charlie Harris grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot in added time, but it wouldn’t be enough to dampen the hosts’ spirits as they jumped to the top of the table with victory.

The visitors dominated for long spells in the opening period and could have been in front inside the first minute when a slack header from Paris Hamilton-Downes was picked up Chris Smith.

Bearing down on goal, Smith drove a powerful left-footed effort across Robins keeper, Patrick Ohman, who matched the effort with an equally good save.

However, the hosts would break the deadlock after just 11 minutes. A dangerous corner from Kershaney Samuels was spilled by House and, with Jordan Cheadle putting the pressure on, Horsham failed to clear their lines, with the ball bundled over and Day getting the final touch.

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The Hornets looked to find an instant response as Reece Hall started a great passing move, knocking the ball wide to JJ O’Sullivan, but O’Sullivan’s over-the-top pass to Lewis Taylor failed to reach its target.

The end-to-end action continued as a wicked cross was almost met by Koroma only for House to come out and clear with an incredible diving header, launching a counter attack for the away side.

Hall led the quick break forward as the Hornets outnumbered Carshalton’s backline, passing out to O’Toole who then cut a pass into Smith but the striker sweeped his effort wide.

Ernold Haxhiu was booked for a late sliding challenge on Charlie Harris, who stepped up to take the free-kick himself, but his 30-yard effort drifted just wide of the post.

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Despite Horsham’s continued pressure to find an equaliser, the visitors dealt themselves a body blow in the 25th minute. An innocuous Carshalton corner looked as if it would be easily cleared but, under no pressure, O’Toole inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net with his knee.

Carshalton looked dangerous every time they were in possession and almost made it three when a trademark Haxhiu cross was left by Will Miles, before just evading Koroma, who was arriving in behind.

Horsham should have been level on the half-hour mark, only for an ingenious moment of defending. An excellent pass from Harvey Sparks got Smith in behind, before poking past Ohman, however Archie Proctor got back in the nick of time, somehow cannoning a clearance off the bar from just a few yards out.

Smith came close once again, ten minutes later, as he curled a shot from inside the area, but Ohman was on hand to make another great save.

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The onslaught continued as O’Sullivan crossed into Tom Day, who planted a firm downwards header on target, but Ohman’s acrobatic clearance off the line denied him.

Two questionable refereeing decisions frustrated the home side just before half-time. The first saw House head a clearance just as he collided with Samuels, but, as Koroma rolled into the open net, play was pulled back despite initially looking as if advantage had been played.

The Robins then had a strong penalty shout after Will Miles appeared to trip Koroma, but the officials remained stone-faced and waved the appeals away.

Carshalton squeezed in one more chance before half-time as Tommy Bradford held the ball up and fed Koroma but his blistering low drive was tipped round the post by House.

HT: Carshalton Athletic 2-0 Horsham

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Ten minutes after the break and Carshalton extended their lead further as Nyren Clunis broke quickly, outpacing Day, before sending in a pinpoint delivery to Koroma who slotted under House.

Horsham came close just past the hour when Hall’s slicing pass found substitute Arron Hopkinson but the winger’s effort slid wide.

The chances kept coming with another substitute, Jack Brivio, making an immediate impact, darting from the wing into the box and sending a cross into Smith whose wild swing failed to connect.

Ohman, who was undoubtedly Man of the Match, was called into action once again, first saving from Hopkinson at his near post before following it up with another in quick succession to deny Smith on the rebound.

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Incredibly, it was a case of ‘cut and paste’ just a few moments later when Hall laid in Taylor who teed up Harris, with the powerhouse midfielder forcing another low diving save from Ohman. Smith charged in to follow up but the keeper was there again to block.

Entering the closing stages, a well-hit shot with underspin from Harris flew inches wide but, just as it looked like their efforts were going to be unrewarded, Horsham were awarded a penalty in added time.

A handball inside the area from Proctor saw him go in the referee’s book as Harris stepped up, smacking an effort off the bar and into the net with what turned out to be the final kick of the game.

Carshalton move to the top-of-the-table with the win, leapfrogging Worthing, while Horsham will kick-off Saturday’s home match against Brightlingsea Regent no higher than 12th, after dropping down a place, by virtue of goal difference.