Luchford blasts defence for ‘comedy of errors’

Defensive mistakes combined with some out-of-sorts play upfront to extend Hornets’ poor home run to five matches without a win during Saturday’s first qualifying round tie.

Luchford said: “Two goals from two errors was a catastrophe. Tony Nwachukwu was not his usual buoyant self and some of my players did not do anything I asked during the first half.

“In the second half I made changes, We scored two goals and had enough chances to win. If you eradicate the errors we’d have won comfortably 2-0. “I’m not afraid to make changes - I have left out Dane and Ray who are decent players at this level and Tony Nwachukwu had an off-day. Lingield struggled to deal with them when they came on. They made an impact and that gives me food for thought for Wednesday.”

A poor first half saw neither side get into their stride. but Horsham improved when substitutes Dane Luchford and Ray Freeman came on at the start of the second half for Williams Peauroux and Dan Morris.

The change bore fruit in the 51st minute as the manager’s younger brother pounced quickly on a loose ball and scored after a long throw from Kane Rice was spilled by keeper Joe White.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Nicky Forster equalised for the visitors on the hour. A long clearance by the keeper was not dealt with by Horsham defender Bernard Asante and the 37-year-old star beat his marker and lapped up the goal.

Tony Nwachukwu put Horsham back in the lead just two minutes later from the penalty spot awarded for Lingfield’s custodian White bringing down Freeman in the penalty srea.

Lingield levelled again 10 minutes before the end through a corner headed home by substitute Josh Coulson as Horsham had to settle for a draw.

HORSHAM: Armstrong-Ford, Salami, Asante, Peauroux (Luchford 46), Jacobs, McGeehan, Nwachukwu, Eldridge, Morris (Freeman 46), Dunne, Rice. Unused subs: Hutchings, Youle, Westoby, King, Surlis

Full report in Thursday’s West Sussex County Times.