RESULT | WHITEHAWK 1 HORSHAM 2
Horsham inflicted a first home defeat on the Hawks since Shaun Saunders’ return as manager. Having bossed the first half playing uphill to earn a two goal lead, an Imran Kayani goal just after the hour kept the outcome in doubt until the final whistle.
Shaun Saunders’ side showed three changes from the defeat at Potter’s Bar. Ex-Hornet Rob O’Toole, Josh Nandhra and debutant Tom Unsworth all started. Kai Jennings was missing in midfield, having been recalled from his loan by AFC Wimbledon. Joel Daly wore number 14 for the visitors, with ex-Hawks Lucas Rodrigues and Greg Luer on the bench.
On a tricky surface, the Hornets looked to play the ball through midfield to the dangerous front pair of Ola Ogunwamide and Chris Dickson. These two combined to win a corner on the right, which was played short to James Hammond and then converted by Isaac Philpot from close range after 14 minutes.
Ten minutes later it was 2-0 from a Hammond spot kick after Ogunwamide had gone down in a tangle of legs with Stefan Wright. It looked soft, but referee Eddie Smith was well placed to give the decision.
Charlie Walker replaced the injured Manny Mensah after 53 minutes, with Kayani coming on for Josh Nandhra three minutes later and the Hawks started to see more of the ball. They got back in the game just after the hour mark after O’Toole took a quick free kick in front of the dugouts that released Harry Bridle on goal. He was tripped by keeper Louis Carey in the box, but the ball ran free for Kayani to score. Referee Smith awarded the goal, despite Hornets protests that the free kick hadn’t been taken from the correct position and Hawks questioning whether he had allowed play to continue and missed a blatant penalty.
Hawks forced a number of corners as they looked to level the score, without creating clear cut chances, as the Hornets saw out the rest of the game without undue alarm to move third in the table, one point off the top. The Hawks now face a crucial home game on Tuesday against fourth from bottom Hendon and will look to get back to winning ways after back to back defeats.
