Horsham YM 0 Horsham 2 (Semark 26, Hawley 61)
Lineup: L. Furber; Grantham-Hill, York, Sullivan, Rea; Semark, Burrows, Dickinson; Essam, Hawley, Whiteman. Subs: Brasier, Morrison, Jesney, Papacharalambous, Ades.
Horsham went some way towards compensating for their FA Youth Cup exit at Tonbridge Angels a week earlier with a routine win over local rivals, Horsham YM. Despite the home side’s dogged resistance, the lead given to Horsham by Semark’s first-half goal never came under serious threat, and once Hawley had doubled the advantage in the 61st minute, the result was not in doubt.
The travails of the YM first team, who suffered a player exodus at the start of the season following the departure of their manager, has filtered down through the Under-23s to the Under-18s, with the result that the hosts were only able to field the bare XI for this fixture.
The Hornets were in the ascendancy from the off, earning two corners and seeing a cleverly improvised flick by Semark fall just wide of the mark, all within the first three minutes. Semark then turned provider with a delicious pass to Essam, but diligent defending kept the ball out.
Whiteman on the left flank was at the centre of things, delivering a succession of crosses into dangerous areas, from one of which Burrows forced a good save out of Baker in the home goal.
There was no doubting YM’s commitment to the cause, but their endeavours were focused almost entirely on keeping the Hornets at bay as wave upon yellow wave washed over them. With almost complete control of possession and territory, Horsham’s biggest challenge was to maintain their composure and not become sloppy on a tricky, bobbly pitch.
A sign that things were not entirely plain sailing came at the mid-point of the half, when Whiteman lost possession and picked up a yellow card for his challenge as he tried to recover the ball. The resulting free kick was cleared as far as the edge of the penalty area, from where a spectacular volley was attempted that was not too far wide of Furber’s goal.
Eventually the dam broke in the 26th minute, and unsurprisingly it came from the left wing, as Whiteman delivered a peach of a cross that Semark met with a perfectly executed header back across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
If YM were to retain a foothold in the game, a set piece was as likely a source as any, but aside from a corner well claimed by Furber, they barely threatened.
There was no shortage of threat at the other end, however, and the Hornets really should have doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute when Hawley’s mesmerising dribble ended with a tempting cross to which neither Essam nor Burrows could apply the telling touch.
The half ended as it had begun, with Horsham on the attack, but with just the one goal to show for it.
Half-time: Horsham YM 0 Horsham 1
The second goal looked a certainty within three minutes of the restart when Dickinson took on seemingly half the YM team before laying the ball back to Semark, whose close-range effort was blocked, allowing the defence somehow to smuggle the ball to safety.
The Hornets kept up the pressure, and a Hawley effort looked destined for the bottom corner until it was turned wide by a YM foot, before the ever-resourceful Semark almost found Whiteman at the near post with a clever reverse pass.
The second did arrive just after the hour mark, when Semark’s pace and close control sliced through the defence, leaving Hawley with a simple finish.
The goal heralded a double change for the Hornets, with Brasier and Jesney replacing Whiteman and Grantham-Hill, a move that released captain York to play further forward. However, it was while covering defensively that the skipper conceded a free kick from which Furber was forced into a fine save, his first of the night.
Back at the other end, Hawley came agonisingly close to his second when his measured shot was turned against the post by Baker, and YM defenders continued to throw themselves in the way of a succession of goalbound shots.
YM did manage one more decent effort when a quick counterattack after Horsham had over-elaborated in the penalty area ended with Lyons firing just wide.
Semark and Dickinson, both excellent on the night, were replaced by Papacharalambous and Morrison immediately afterwards, and within moments Horsham worked another clear opening, with Essam being felled right on the edge of the penalty area for a free kick that Hawley curled a foot wide.
That was the striker’s last contribution, as he made way for Ades with nine minutes to play, but the Hornets were now in containment mode and were largely content to retain possession and see time out against their tiring opponents.
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Lead coach James McCallum expressed himself happy with his side’s efforts, despite mild disappointment that the margin of victory was not greater.
“We know when we come here that the pitch can be tricky, depending what time of year, and we also know the opposition is always up for the game, being a local derby. Sometimes when teams have smaller numbers, they can make your life harder and play in a certain style that can be frustrating or hard to break down. That was maybe a difficult task that this group of players has not had to face so far this season, but they’ve come through with somewhat flying colours!
“YM denied us a lot of space, stopped us playing in certain areas, squeezed and narrowed the pitch at times, and we had to use the ball and some movement to try to get through.
“I think naturally with the number of opportunities we created that we would have liked to score more goals, but sometimes you’ve just got to be realistic. The fact that we’re creating opportunities is a positive, and I’m sure the goals will come this season.
“In terms of a man of the match, I think Will Essam played really well down the right in the first half and the left in the second. He got himself involved in the game, took on instruction well and created several chances for us.”