Rovers 2 - 2 Horsham

Rovers had to settle for a share of the spoils in what was another entertaining game at Burroughs Park. Ryman League One South club Horsham provided stiff opposition for the Rovers who were depleted in numbers due to injuries and holidays.
Nevertheless, it was the homes side that got off to the brighter start, but not before a second minute scare. Horsham’s Jaufrey Mahoodo shot wide following a defensive mix-up.
Rovers responded when a Jay Nash overhead kick warmed the hands of the visitors keeper Michael Hunter, then Dan Williams close rang effort was headed off the line by Matthew Simpson.
Horsham then nearly broke the deadlock when Louis Godwin-Green’s clearance struck Mithan Natee and few just wide of an upright.
Despite the odd scare, Rovers were enjoying the lion’s share of the play, Nash struck a speculative shot that Hunter did well to tip over the crossbar, and then the Horsham custodian did well to deny a similar effort from Ashley Hawkins.
Hawkins was involved in a number of dangerous Rovers raids. His next attempt, a thundering twenty-five yarder, narrowly cleared the visitors bar. Rovers continued to press, with Nash once again going close after he was sent clear by John Mbamarah.
Horsham started to find their feet. A spell of pressure saw Louis Godwin-Green deny Tony Nwacukwu, Kerry Kedze and Charlie Farmer. However, the Rovers keeper could not keep the visitors at bay any longer. After forty-two minutes, Jaufrey Mahoodo latched on to a loose ball following a corner, and crashed the ball past Godwin-Green and high into the net.
Buoyed by their goal and indeed improved display towards the end of the first half, Horsham began the second period on the front foot.
An exquisite pass from Nwacukwu sent Kedze away only for Godwin-Green to make a smart save with his legs, then Scott Harris saw his long range strike turned around a post by the Great Wakering goalie.
Then, out of the blue, Rovers found a way back into the game. The impressive Ashley Hawkins beat the visitors off side trap before finishing with aplomb.
The game became scrappy as both sides looked for a way to grab an advantage. Matthew Simpson missed a glorious chance to put Horsham back in front, firing wide from close range. Then following a good build up down the right flank, Simpson made up for his miss by spectacularly heading Horsham into the lead.
With time running out, Rovers went for broke looking for a way to salvage something from the game. Substitute Mike Finneran saw his header cleared off the line, and then he shot over from a tight angle. Player-manager Dan Trenkel was denied by a wonderful save by the Horsham keeper.
However, this Rovers team keep going right to the end. With just two minutes left on the clock, Ashley Hawkins waltzed past the visitors keeper before planting the ball into the net for his and the Rovers second goal.
Once again, Great Wakering Rovers had put on an excellent display, but as Dan Trenkel stated after the match “It’s what we do in next week’s league opener against Stansted that counts”

Rovers: Godwin-Green, Gibson, Drury, M Trenkel, Mbamarah, Fletcher, Simon-Parson, D Trenkel, Williams, Nash, Hawkins
Subs: Keys, Dean, Finneran, Skeels

Horsham: Hunter, Broadhurst, Mbata, Farmer, Simpson, Clark, Nwacukwu, Harris, Kedze, Natee, Mahoodo.
Subs: Ampleford, Muitigue, Bolaji, Cushing, Collier, Hallet, Hagan.