The Angels were looking to build on their win at Chipstead last Saturday against a Horley Town side who the face three times in the next four weeks!

The Angels started in a 3-5-2 formation but were slow to get on their game and conceded a number of petty fouls that put themselves under pressure and handed the initiative to Horley. On 4 minutes the Angels conceded a corner, from the corner the ball dropped to a Horley forward who had time and space to slot the ball home from 8 yards to take the lead. On eleven minutes another mistimed tackle led to a free kick on the edge of the box, the resultant cross was met by the Horley forward who looped his header over Goldsmith just under the bar for 2-0. The Angels were looking ragged and Holmes was booked for a foul. Angels changed their formation to 4-4-2 with Johnson replacing Holmes on 25 minutes. With the change, the Angels started to come into the game and started to press the Horley end with first a drive from Cramp and then from Sinclair comfortably saved by the Horley keeper. Another long range effort from McKeown and D’Arcey followed with Horley limiting the Angels shots on goal to long range.

The Angels started the second half much more lively and pushed forward looking for an early goal to get them back into the game. The Angels were starting to look more like the side from the previous week, passing the ball around and started to make the Horley defence work. On 55 minutes a cross from Cramp was met by Neville whose header was well saved by the Horley keeper. On 56 minutes Scutter replaced McKeown to bring a more attacking look to the formation. Scutter made an immediate impact pressurising the Horley defenders into mistakes. On 60 minutes Kennett replaced Brock on left hand side of midfield.

With the Angels pushing forward in search of a goal to get them back into the game , this left them a little short at the back, Goldsmith made a series of saves to deny the Horley forwards and keep the Angels in the game. First producing a one-handed save to tip the ball around the post, shortly later producing a save to push the ball around the post at full-stretch when the ball was looking destined for the top corner. The best save was left until last when a Horley forward was left unmarked and unleashed a powerful drive that Goldsmith got a good and on to deflect away for a corner. On 75 minutes after some good interplay by Sinclair and Neville, Neville struck the bar from 20 yards. The Angels continued to press for that elusive goal and were rewarded on 84 minutes when a cross from the right by Sinclair was swept home by Scutter 1-2.

The Angels now had a good period of pressure and on 87 minutes a cross from D’Arcey finished with Sinclair shooting wide. Despite pressing for the equaliser, it wasn’t to be, the Angels will rue that slow start that cost them dear in this game. They cannot afford a similar start in next week’s League Cup 1st Round 1st Leg at Longmead against the same opposition. The game will kick off at 1.00pm due to the Wales v England game.

Report by: Kevin Goldsmith