Chatham Town might have an excuse of the celebrations went on too much on Wednesday night after their victory in the Velocity Cup Final, but in reality they were poor on Saturday, but are still in a great place to come second as they play Enfield next week.
The game started well for Chatham as in the 6th minute Kareem Isiaka received the ball in the area and went round Lewis Carey and from an acute angle saw his cross shot evade everyone and then cleared, but then Horsham woke up and took control of the game.
In the 20th minute took a deserved lead when Daniel Ajakaiye on the right crossed into the area where Reece Myles-Meekums rose and headed in from 6 yards.
Fifteen minutes later and it could have been two when James Hammond 15 yards out saw his goalbound shot headed away for a corner by Reece Butler.
Half time arrived and the home support were hoping for a better performance in the second half while the Horsham fans were hoping to stay in front in their quest for the play-offs.
The second half was only three minutes old when Horsham doubled their lead when Lucas Rodrigues saw his shot from 20 yards come back off the post and Ajakaiye reacted first and poked into the net.
Three minutes later Horsham scored again when Hammond’s cross from the right found Jack Mazzone who headed in from 10 yards.
This seemed game over but Chatham being Chatham during this season have come back and sometimes won.
In the 59th minute Jamie Mascoll’s free kick to the back post found Sid Nelson on his own but his shot stretching was saved by Carey, a minute later Jamie Yila on the left passed inside to Libard Henry and from 10 yards his shot was again saved by Carey.
Then in 62nd minute a Mascoll corner to the near post was met by Nelson but his header went over the bar and epitomised their game today.
Another half chance came in the 79th minute when Harvey Bradbury in the area saw his shot saved by Carey and then Yila saw his free kick from 19 yards go over the bar.
Then in the 4th minute of added on time they got a consolation goal when Yila on the right got to the by-line before his low cross was met by Danny Kedwell 10 yards out and his shot beat Carey.
The full time whistle went and the majority of the supporters were shell shocked their team had been beaten comprehensivly while the Horsham supporters would be dreaming of getting into the play-offs.
CHATHAM TOWN:
- B.BRIDLE-CARD 3. J.MASCOLL 4. J.ROBINS 5. R.BUTLER 8. J.EVANS (56) 9. D.KEDWELL 11. J.YILA 12. R.LIBARD 15. S.COOPER 16. K.ISIAKA (61) 18. S.NELSON (68)
SUBS USED: 7. A.NZALA (56) 14. J.DUNNE (61) 17. H.BRADBURY (68)
SUBS NOT USED: 6. D.BECKWITH 20. C.DICKSON
BOOKINGS: 7. A.NZALA (83) 14. J.DUNNE (90+6)
HORSHAM:
- L.CAREY 2. L.HARDING 3. H.SPARKS 4. D.BARKER 5. J.STRANGE 6. J.BRIVIO 7. J.HAMMOMD (71) 8. L.RODRIGUES 9. J.MAZZONE (75) 10. D.AJAKAIYE (61)
SUBS USED: 16. S.FENELON (61) 15. D.TUCK (71) 12. S.EL ABD (75)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. B.PRICE 17. E.ROMAIN
BOOKINGS: 2. L.HARDING (87) 12. S.EL ABD (90+6)
REFEREE: Mr A. MERCHANT
ASSISTANTS: Mr S.MATTHEWS & Mr S.RYAN
ATTENDANCE: 2067
Picture supplied by Chatham Town.