Horsham 4 Lancing 1: Hornets sting unbeaten Lancers

Goals by Joe Shelley and Terry Dodd gave them a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes.

Although Lewis Finney quickly pulled one back, Horsham completed the demolition job with further goals either side of half-time by Darren Boswell and substitute Samir Hadi.

Finally with seven minutes to go, Lancing’s Alex Bygraves put the game even further out of reach by being sent-off for a late challenge.

It was an accomplished display and looked quite different from the miserable performances served up last season which led to their relegation from the Ryman League.

The visitors arrived at Gorings Mead with a perfect record of played seven, won seven and had won their last game 6-1 against Wick & Barnham.

However Horsham were up for the challenge from the start as they completed an early double over Lancing, having already knocked them out of the FA Cup 1-0 in August.

Played in beautiful, warm sunny conditions, Dom Di Paola’s rebuilt side went on the attack from the start and took the lead in only the fourth minute when Adam Hunt’s cross was nodded in at the far post by Shelley.

Dodd soon bundled the second across the line, flicked on to him by Brad Lewis following a cross from the left by Boswell.

Finney made it 2-1 two minutes later when he ran on to a long through-ball and netted it first time with the outside of his boot.

Dodd went narrowly wide from a long-range one-two with former Lancing player Boswell.

Horsham nearly scored again but for a double-block on the goalline by Lancing ‘keeper Callum Fidler.

Boswell looked sharp as he reacted well to a short pass to him in the area by Dodd to tap-in Horsham’s 34th minute third goal.

Dodd had two more attempts denied by Fidler before half-time while Kieron Pamment confidently sped past his marker before crossing from the right, this time the ball not finding anyone and ran out of play.

In the second half it was more of the same with Horsham dominating throughout.

Dodd hit the post having intercepted a pass out from the keeper. Lewis then lifted the rebound over the bar.

Pamment and Boswell then both had shots saved by the busy Fidler as they Horsham went for the kill.

Constant pressure throughout the half eventually led to a fourth goal on 63 minutes which sealed victory.

Jordan Clark’s free-kick was headed on by Shelley before substitute Hadi drove home off the bottom of the post.

Lancing were reduced to ten men after 83 minutes when Bygraves was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Clark’s ankle.

The visitors were prevented from getting back into ther game through some smart work by Horsham keeper Gareth Williams who swooped to take the ball from Lewis Finney’s feet before he could shoot, following a cross from Wade Eason.

Finally, Dodd underlined his fine game with a turn and shot which was kept out by Fidler as Horsham emerged triumphant at the final whistle.

Horsham: Williams, Hunt (Duncan 73), Knee, Clark, Jones, Farmer (Gilbert 69), Shelley (capt), Lewis, Dodd, Pamment, Boswell (Hadi 58)

Unused sub: Storrie

Lancing: Fidler, Mills, Fenton, Bygraves, Spinks, Bowra, Rance (Williamson 61), Rouane (capt)(Eason 57), Fair (Greenfield 68), O’Callaghan, Finney

Unused sub: Sharman, Spinks

Referee: Christopher Hamilton

Attendance: 202

Man of the Match: Jordan Clark

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