After a difficult week in which Horsham’s first choice goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey left for Kingstonian, the Hornets bounced back to secure back to back wins.
On Tuesday night Horsham picked up their first cup victory of the season with a well deserved success over Sutton United in an entertaining Championship Manager Cup 2nd round tie.
On a night in which supporters struggled to see the far side of the ground due to the thick fog that hung low across the dewy pitch, the Hornets gained deserved reward for an enterprising performance that saw them recover from conceding an early goal to take control by the midway stage of the first half.
with better luck, they might even have equalled the four goal tally registered against Cray Wanderers at the weekend.
Alex Haddow's stunning volley, and a tap-in from Jack Page, ensured that Horsham would turn around with an advantage at the break and only the width of the post prevented the luckless Pat Harding from extending the lead in the second half while Claude Seanla's late effort was ruled out for offside.
Haddow joined Gary Charman in returning to the side after suspension and, with Mark Knee out with a chest injury, James Nicholls made only his second start of the season at full-back.
But the main talking point concerned the goalkeeping position where player/coach Rob Frankland was forced to don the gloves after boss John Maggs had been unable to secure the signing of Worthing's Alan Mansfield earlier in the day.
Frankland turned back the years to produce a number of fine saves in an assured display that saw him limping and unable to kick the ball during the final half an hour following a late challenge.
Both sides looked lively during the opening exchanges but it was the Us who struck first through Danny Phillips with just 5 minutes gone.
Haddow lit up the match by sending a stunning 20 yard volley in to the top corner of the net to level the scores on 22 minutes.
Encouraged by this, the Hornets continued to press and the quick actions of Harding and Charman created another goal, Jack Page's second in successive games, when they chased down a back pass to Paul Smith who dallied and miscued his attempted clearance in to the path of Page who had the simple task of pushing the ball in to the back of the unguarded net.
Horsham survived a lattle rally from United but are in the hat for the next round.
Horsham left it late to secure victory against promoted Cray Wanderers, hitting three goals in the final five minutes.
There was no indication of the goal glut that was to come after a scrappy, almost chanceless opening 45 minutes in which both sides struggled to impose themselves on the slippery Gorings Mead pitch.
But this was a game in which the first goal would always be crucial and so it proved, from the moment Jack Page put the Hornets ahead midway through the second half.
Yet, but for a bizarre refereeing decision the match may have had a very different outcome when, with the game goalless, Tyrone Sterling broke through the Horsham rearguard only to be pulled back by referee Power whose decision to award the visitors a free-kick both bemused and angered the Cray players and officials.
The Hornets gradually gained the upper hand and took full advantage when Claude Seanla added to Page's earlier strike, a minute from time, before the impressive Lee Carney took over, scoring one and laying on another for Pat Harding in time added on.
At least £100 has been added to the player budget following yesterday's victory over Cray Wanderers, thanks to the club's new Sponsor a Goal initiative.
Around 25 people have already given their support to the cause, pledging at least £1 for every goal scored by the Hornets for the remainder of the season and you can join up, too, by contacting John Maggs on 07946 135709 or speaking to a club official at any home game.
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