Hornets’ luckless run continues with late Merstham winner

JPCT 070215 S15060714x Football, Ryman League South Division: Horsham v Chipstead -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-150702-161721001

The Hornets looked to be on their way to a creditable point against the division’s third-placed side, but suffered late heartbreak in a 2-1 defeat.

Richie Welch and Tony Nwachukwu even had a golden opportunity to win it for the visitors in injury-time as they failed to convert with the goal gaping.

But with that opportunity spurned and the game deep into a puzzling five minutes of added time, the Moatsiders broke and Omar Folkes pinched a late winner.

A late winner from former-Horsham captain Ross Morley also helped Redhill hit back from two-goals to beat South Park 3-2 and sink his old side back to the foot of the table.

Hornets joint manager Anthony Storey said: “It’s happened again. It has cost us five points now conceding late on.

“We lost a point against Hastings to a late winner, three against Tooting and one again on Tuesday.

“It was a much better performance from the boys after the last two games which weren’t acceptable, and that is what we need to be like.

“It means we have got to manage the game better. We had opportunities to manage better and take the sting out of the game and we didn’t.”

Initially, the Hornets had held their high-flying hosts until two minutes before the break, when Merstham captain Tommy Hutchings netted the breakthrough. Before that Nwachukwu had a header saved when offside and Tom Hughes headed wide.

A hard-working Horsham however hit back in the second half as substitute Bailo Camara glanced home a Tony Nwachukwu cross in the 67th minute.

Welch’s curling effort in injury-time looked destined for the bottom corner, but was well saved by Brannon Dal and Nwachukwu sent the follow- up agonisingly wide.

There was to be one last cruel blow, however, as when Folkes drove into the area and finished in the 95th minute.

The Hornets are now four points from safety again.

Horsham: Williams, Berry, Welch, Hughes, Obersteller, Page, Brandford, Vickers, Nwachukwu, McCreadie,Izokun. Subs: Camara, Otobo, Hope, Lockyer, Zawadski.

More reaction and all the latest Horsham news in tomorrow’s paper.