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We round-up the latest performances by the Hornets’ Youth squads.
Wednesday 22nd September
Under 14 Mid Sussex Youth League
Haywards Heath Town 3 Horsham U14s 6
Having had an early season beset with injuries, finally the U14s set off to Haywards Heath with something like a full squad. In lieu of a training session, the young Hornets played their final midweek game this year on a decent pitch with perfect conditions. The first half saw Horsham playing with shape and purpose and moving the ball well. The goals soon followed after just seven minutes, with J Pateman collecting a short corner from the left and looping a terrific shot into the far corner of the goal. Just a minute later J Yorke’s pinpoint free-kick found the head of S Abrehart who guided the ball over the keeper into the corner.
The hornets were buzzing at this point, with Heath looking properly stung. Horsham were closing down on every Heath player, and the home side were struggling to leave their own half. A fine save from Horsham keeper J Chiu kept out a rare Heath shot, before S Abrehart sprinted down a fine pass from B Weller and neatly chipped the keeper for the visitors’ third goal. Two more goals followed with S Abrehart completing his hat-trick and midfielder F Joyce netting a fifth with only twenty minutes played. With the midfield strong and imposing, and the front line fast and mobile, the U14s were demonstrating the form which gave them their successes from the previous season.
Predictably, the second half saw the home side came out after the break with far more intent and energy, with the coaches more animated too. For Horsham, with a five goal cushion and sixteen players to run out, coaches Graham and Barry rightly rotated the team. After ten minutes Heath began to impose themselves, with Horsham unable to maintain their rhythm and shape with the continuous substitutions. The danger increased and, after hitting the post minutes before, the home side got a goal back from a free-kick after nineteen minutes played.
Horsham responded with J Pateman showing both industry and craft as he twisted within the penalty area to net his second goal of the evening. But this only provided some minor respite as a resurgent Heath, now dominant in midfield, added two more from another free-kick and a corner respectively. But Horsham had done enough in the first half to earn the points, despite the home side’s valiant comeback. And the coaches will have been pleased to see the potential demonstrated, from a side which has at least another gear available (report by James Archard).
Sunday 25th September
Under 11 Mid Sussex Youth Development League Cup
Our U11s continued their good start to the campaign with a home win against Lindfield Junior Sharks
Under 12 Mid Sussex Youth League Cup
Burgess Hill Town 0 Horsham U12s 7
On an autumnal morning, Horsham’s U12s made the journey down to Burgess Hill Academy for the first round of their cup campaign and put on a performance that demonstrated their exceptional team ethic.
Horsham began the game with an immediate statement of intent, peppering the Hill goal with several shots on target but finding the goalkeeper in inspired form, ensuring the visitors didn’t take an early lead. The Hornets’ teamwork soon began to pay off, however, when W Dexter sent a perfect pass to W DuVergier for a composed finish, and this was soon followed by a 20 yard super strike from C Sharpe. J Millard then added a third with a stunning goal after some good, passing, build-up play giving the Hornets 0-3 lead at half time before manager Edwards made a number of changes during the break.
Horsham’s dominance continued after the break with J Blastock getting onto the score sheet before J. Millard, continuing a consistently strong performance, got his second with another composed run and delightful finish. W DuVergier then completed the goal scoring with 2 more goals sealing a 0-7 victory. At the other end of the pitch Horsham’s defence remained defiant, and calm, with goalkeeper J.Birch claiming a clean sheet.
Manager Dan Edwards described the game as, ‘very professional performance in which we worked hard and took our chances’.
MOTM was W.Duvergier for his excellent hold up play and hat-trick
Under 13 Sussex Sunday Youth League
Haywards Heath Town 3 Horsham U13s 3
Having faced each other 7 days ago, when the Hornets recorded a convincing 6-1 win, the two teams met again in a reverse fixture and this time the contest was to be a much closer contest against a very stubborn Haywards Heath. In what was a scrappy affair, especially in the midfield third, Jamie Irving’s team tried their utmost to play football, with Dickinson particularly influential, but found a ‘Heath team resolute and quick to smother any Horsham build up play.
Despite this, Horsham managed to put some lovely football together and a superb ball out wide to C Addy saw him play in J Harding for his first of two goals with T Owen getting a third. ‘Keeper Willard, however, proved to be the difference. A penalty save, several more crucial saves and superb presence in the box saw him influence the Hornets’ attacking moves and had an impact on all 3 goals.
Under 14 Mid Sussex Youth League
Horsham U14 0 Eastbourne United 1
This promised to be a big game with Eastbourne United, possibly the best grassroots U14 side in Sussex, up against Graham Duvergier’s team. Horsham started well with H Duvergier having an early shot on target. Eastbourne responded with their first effort a few minutes later and, just a few minutes later, Duvergier’s shot was well saved with J Pateman following up for the rebound, but somehow the ball did not go over the line. Eastbourne were defending frantically, with Horsham looking well up for the fight.
Duvergier took a relatively long range free kick with ten minutes on the clock. The shot was well struck but the Eastbourne keeper did well to save. Pateman was fouled shortly thereafter, with Duvergier again stepping forward to take the kick, but unfortunately Horsham were offside this time.
B Weller, playing up front with strength and power, came close for Horsham on 17min with a great turn, but his shot was saved. It was clear that Eastbourne were looking rattled at this stage and sure enough they conceded a penalty on 20min with the Eastbourne keeper committing a foul. S Abrehart stepped forward to take the kick but the shot was wide and came off the outside of the post. Eastbourne were let off the hook.
Thereafter, for the remainder of the half, Eastbourne were conceding free kicks every other minute. But despite the opportunities offered, Horsham’s delivery wasn’t good by their own standard, and the boys couldn’t take advantage of their height. The first half ended with end-to-end football being played by both teams. Horsham ended the half looking the stronger side having created more chances and more shots on goal.
After the restart Eastbourne had their best period of play. They had their first chance with a dangerous cross but it was pushed wide by goalie L Nason. Eastbourne had a further chance shortly thereafter however the shot was well over the cross bar. Eastbourne took a further long range shot on 39min, but the shot was again well saved by the goalkeeper, who showed his quality throughout.
Horsham were now soaking up the pressure and again in the ascendancy evidenced by the visitors continuing to commit numerous fouls. Eastbourne had a big chance on 49min but L Nason got his hands to it and pushed it well away. S Abrehart followed up at the other end on 50min with another good shot on target with the keeper making the save at full stretch. The football was frantic at this stage with the ball going from end to end with both teams looking for the winner!
With 3min remaining Eastbourne were awarded a free kick near the left hand corner – was this their moment? Their no 10 delivered an accurate cross which found an Eastbourne head and it was in the back of the net! With only a few minutes left the game was over. This was an excellent game of football. Horsham looked the better team, had more chances, and will feel an injustice. But they were up against more streetwise players, most of whom have academy experience. The silver lining is the experience they gained, and how they will develop as characters from the disappointment (report by Darryl Denyssen).
Under 15s Mid Sussex Youth League
Horsham U15s 2 Langton Green 1
With manager Craig Brewster away in Scotland, assistant manager Dean Potter saw a threadbare squad entertain Langton Green at the CWCS. Due to a combination of absence and injury, Potter only had 13 players available for selection but the 13 put in a spirited performance to claim all three points. B Moyo opened the scoring in the 12th minute and the score stayed that way until 5 minutes into the second half when Langton equalised. Determined to secure the points Moyo got his second in the 62nd minute and this proved to be the decisive goal giving them their first league win of the season.
Under 18s Mid Sussex Youth League
No game – the under 18s kick off their season at home to Cuckfield Cosmos next Sunday.
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