Reporters Notes

Horley Town 0

East Preston 0

Horley’s first FA Cup game for many years saw them welcome East Preston to the New Defence. Town started the first half a little nervous and it showed in their play with the ball been given away to often. Neither team were taking control of the game, but the Preston number 8 was seeing far to much of the ball for Town manager Rennie’s liking. Nathan Jupp was trying to cause the Preston skipper problems in the air, but felt his arm on the back of head on more than 1 occaiseon only for the ref to seem happy to let him get away with it. The second half saw Town come out and start playing the better football with Darren Tidy continuing to cover every inch of the Preston end. On 65 mins Horley won a corner which James Clarke sent into the box and Elliot Lyward flicked on for Danny Guscott to head home, only for the Horley players and supporters to be amazed at the goal being disallowed for a foel on the keeper. Horley were now pushing Preston back in what was their best spell of the game and when Mark Gilbert send over a superb cross field ball, Charlie Adsett lost his marker and beat the keeper with a superb header only to see it come back off the far post. The last few mins saw both teams go close, but in the dying mins Town’s keeper made a fantastic save diving away to his right to push a goal bound shot around the post.

team: Lockwood, Winsor, T Jupp(capt) Norris, Weller, Adsett, Clarke, Guscott, Gilbert, Tidy, N Jupp.subs Cox, Howells, Lyward

Mon 27 Aug

Epsom & Ewell 2

Horley Town 1

Town were looking to put their poor performance on Saturday against Bedfont out of their minds with a win against Epsom & Ewell. After a slow start both teams were getting into their game when a mix up between Town's Weller and Lockwood in the 08th Min gifted E&E the opening goal. Horley's Clarke had the chance to make it 1-1 when town were awarded a penalty, but he failed to beat the keeper. Elliot Lyward equalised for Town on 55 mins and they were looking to step up a gear and take all 3 points, by E&E had other ideas and made it 2-1 on 60 mins to make it 2 defeats in a row for Town. This was a much better performance by Town and hopefully they can get back to winning ways next weekend.

Team: Lockwood, Weller, T Jupp(capt) Winsor, Gilbert, Guscott, Norris, Clarke, Howells, Lyward, N Jupp, Sub Comber

Horley Town 0

Bedfont Green 3

Horley had their second home game in a week against Bedfont and were hoping to improve on their midweek performance against Dorking. Unfortunately the referee awarded Bedfont a very dubious penalty after 8 mins when the ball hit Chris Weller's arm while he was on the ground. This unsettled Town and they could get into the normal passing football, which lead to them going 2 down after 24 mins when Jamie Liddell lost possession deep in the Bedfont half which Bedfont quickly turned into attack. Town's Weller did well to get back to challenge the Bedfont forward, but his low cross found his strike partner to make it 2-0. Town tried to get back into the game and almost pulled a goal back on 28 mins when Liddell crossed for Elliot Lyward to beat the keeper with his header only to see it cleared off the line. 2 mins later Charlie Adsett had a fierce 20 yard shot well saved by the Bedfont keeper. Bedfont were reduced to 10 men on 38 mins when Liddell was struck off the ball. The sending off should have helped Town take control of the game, but 3 mins later they went 3 down and were looking very shaky. Adsett went close on 44 mins with a header after a cross from Danny Guscott. The second half saw Bedfont sit back on their lead and with Horley struggling to create any goal scoring chances, they replaced Darren Tidy with Dave Powell due to injury and Tom Winsor replaced Matt Hodge with Nathan Jupp replacing Chris Weller. Town were reduced to 10 men when Liddell was given his second yellow card. Bedfont were awarded another penalty on 80 which would have given the scoreline an unfair look, but Town's keeper Simon Lockwood made a great save down to his right. The game ended 3-0 with Bedfont ending Town's 100% winning start to the season.

Team: Lockwood, Weller, T Jupp(capt) Norris, Hodge, Liddell, Guscott, Aaron, Adsett, Tidy, Lyward subs: N Jupp, Winsor, Powell, Gilbert

Horley Town 3

Dorking 2

Town’s first local derby of the new season saw Dorking come to the New Defence hoping to put an end to Horley’s winning start to the season. Dorking were soon on a high after a mistake by Town Keeper Simon Lockwood in the first min when a high ball into the box seemed to get lost in the lights. Town regained their composure and started to get back into the game and levelled on 40 mins through Nathan Jupp who scored with a free header from 6 yards following a corner. Dorking went ahead 10 mins into the second half with an outstanding goal from their young number 7 who looks a very good prospect. Horley kept battling in what was not the best of games and were rewarded in the 80 min when Elliot Lyward made it 2-2. The last 10 mins were a battle with both teams putting everyting into trying to get the winner. Nathan Jupp was sent off in the 90 min, which in fact seem to give Town the extra determination to go and get the 3 points and Lyward made it 3-2 in the 91 min to ensure Town’s 100% record stayed intact.

Team: Lockwood, Weller, T Jupp (capt) Norris, Adsett, Guscott, N Jupp, Lyward, Tidy, Liddell, Grant.Gilbert,