Only one goal but three points for the Boars: Little Common 0 – 1 Roffey

Roffey made the long journey to Little Common determined to bounce back from the unlucky defeat against East Grinstead. Pat Gibbs was rested with a niggle after his first start back for months in the previous game, Hayden Skerry is still working back to fitness and the Pearse brothers still missing through injury.

Right from the start Roffey dominated possession and the hosts sat in a low block. Callum Kilkenny had the first attempt on goal when taking a return pass from Jordan Mase before shooting over the bar. Shortly after Kilkenny got round the back and Common keeper Matt Cruttwell had to block his effort with the rebound being scrambled clear. After nine minutes Roffey thought they had a penalty for a foul on Stan Berry but after consulting his assistant, the referee ruled it out.

Eighteen minutes in with nearly all the game in the Common half, Stan Berry, back from injury, cut in from the right and fired over. Chesworth showed a wonderful bit of skill but his cross to unmarked Kilkenny was just intercepted. Next, Jack Meeres came out of the defence to play a one two, but Cruttwell saved his shot. The home side forced a free kick which was headed clear with the return cross coming to nothing. Ten minutes before half time Tom Caplin and Kilkenny combined but the dangerous cross was blocked at the near post. A corner routine led to Charlie Gibson firing in a shot that brought an excellent save from Cruttwell. The ball was cleared long, but any hope of a break was snuffed out by Teddy Wood and Kilkenny.

Thirty-eight minutes and Harrison broke down the right and cut into the area, his cross shot bringing another good save from Cruttwell. Roffey’s pressure intensified as half time approached. Berry brought another fine save from Cruttwell and Mase’s follow up was blocked a couple of yards out. The deadlock was finally broken after a slick passing combination with Chesworth and Mase, released Harrison into the box and he slid the ball inside the far post. The Boars nearly doubled the lead a minute later, but Berry’s effort was scrambled off the line.

Five minutes into the second half a flowing move down the left ended with Berry driving the ball narrowly wide into the side netting. A minute later Kilkenny had Cruttwell diving low to his right to save again. Fifty-six minutes and Mase robbed a defender but shot straight at Cruttwell. On seventy minutes Mase hit a free kick narrowly over the bar as Roffey kept the game in the Common half. Entering the last quarter of the match. Mase hit a swerving drive that brought another great save from Cruttwell. Then the keeper made a more straightforward save from a Caplin effort.

Into the last ten minutes and despite the Boars’ dominance, the lead was still only one and Roffey continued to search for the second. Mase drove over the bar then took the ball off a defender and brought yet another excellent save from Cruttwell, this time low to his left. Wood tried his luck from twenty-five yards, but the home stopper was there again. The mist was now beginning to drift over the pitch as Bailey Moyo shot high and wide. As we entered the last couple of minutes it was still all Roffey, and Wood had his shot deflected into the side netting after a free kick with Jack Meeres’ header from the resulting corner being the last significant action of the match.

Roffey took the three points against a dogged Common side backed up by some outstanding goalkeeping. Despite only scoring one goal, it was a thoroughly professional performance with the home side being denied a shot on goal throughout the ninety minutes. The Boars move back up into the play off-places and now have a ten day break before their next match v Crawley Down Gatwick at the Fusion Aviation Stadium on November 17th. At present Horsham have no game that night so it would be great to see the Lardy Army and regular Horsham supporters there, with concessions for Horsham season ticket holders. The boars are certainly playing a very entertaining brand of football.

Roffey: Burton, Harrison, Gibson, Napper, Meeres, Caplin, Wood, Mase, Chesworth(Moyo), Berry(Hoarty), Kilkenny(Allen). Subs: Skerry, Mesquita.