Heybridge 1 Horsham 0 (Ryman Premier League)
Horsham look set for a tense finale to their season in exile after this defeat against the division's basement club leaves them facing a potential relegation battle as the campaign nears its conclusion.
Just five points from a disappointing March has seen their play-off aspirations overtaken by those of Premier Division survival but the luckless Hornets will point to a controversial incident that left them with nothing to show for their efforts as Heybridge recorded only their second home win of the season.
That a linesman's flag ruled out Claude Seanla's 62nd minute header was disappointing for the visiting players and the handful of hardy supporters felt a huge sense of injustice and Julian Simon-Parson's 87th minute header merely rubbed salt in to the wounds.
John Maggs' rapidly diminishing squad saw further changes to the side beaten at Wealdstone at the weekend with 16 year old George Magnus making his full league debut alongside Anthony Acheampong in the centre of defence while Russell Eldridge returned to the midfield in place of the injured Gary Charman.
Darren Budd made a welcomed return to the starting line-up but, with Lee Carney still out of action, Maggs was forced to draft in another teenager, Adam Hutchings, who took his place on the bench alongside Steve Davies with Reggie Savage preferred in attack against the side with whom he had begun the season.
However, it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams. Tony Nwachukwu was allowed to run at the defence and he teed up Alex Haddow whose shot was blocked in the area and Heybridge’s shaky defence were also able to block Seanla’s follow-up shot.
Ben Codling found plenty of space between Horsham’s centre-halves and he had time to turn but dragged his shot well wide of the mark from 10 yards when he really should have broken the deadlock.
Heybridge emerged from the dressing rooms the better side, and would have opened the scoring from their first chance of the half but for a fine save from Tolfrey.
Codling dummied Magnus and was clear on goal with only the Horsham stopper to beat but his attempt to pass the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal was met by Tolfrey’s lightning quick reactions.
Horsham looked very shaky and uncertain on the ball, pushed further and further back into their own half as the game wore on, but they were able to break into Heybridge’s half and Yinka Salaam produced a lung bursting run to the byeline from where his cross found the head of the rising Seanla who nodded the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net only for the flag to go up, cancelling the goal out.
Heybridge made the most of their fortuitous escape and created a chance that nearly saw them take the lead. Matt Cutchey’s header from a corner found the target, as it slipped through Tolfrey's hands, but Haddow was on the line to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.
The hosts replied in kind when Eldridge conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Hull stepped up to send in a sweet right footed strike that skimmed the crossbar as Tolfrey watched it over his goal.
Hull was more successful with his next delivery when his floated cross was flicked on for Simon-Parson, an 83rd minute replacement for Codling, to arrive unmarked at the far post and direct the ball into an open net.
The visitors desperately pressed for a goal but couldn’t fashion another chance and the game ended in further controversy when Haddow was on the end of a very late challenge that somehow escaped the attention of the officials.
Horsham would consider themselves very unfortunate not have collected at least a point from the game but for two fantastic saves from Ollie Morris-Sanders and an error from the assistant referee.
The Hornets now host Boreham Wood on Saturday, which must be treated as a vital game to fend off relegation fears.
Report: Ben Tennant
Pictures: John Lines
Subscribe