A depleted and reshuffled Ashford Town side slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Horsham this evening.  Fielding only the delayed Brian Haule up front in the absence of the unavailable Byron Harrison and Scott Harris and with captain Paul Johnson starting as a makeshift left-back, the Ash Trees were hit on the counter-attack by a skilful Horsham side on a very poor pitch.

The Hornets took the lead in the eighth minute when Tony Nwachukwu bundled the ball home from a Ben Andrews header and doubled their lead just three minutes later when Adam Hutchinson curled a fine shot beyond Paul Burgess.

Just after the half-hour, the home side swept into a 3-0 lead with a rapid break down the boggy right flank which Ashford failed to deal with and the resultant low cross was swept home by Alex Haddow.  The Tangerines were given an opportunity to get back into the game four minutes before half time when Jermaine McGlashan was fouled on the edge of the box, with referee Kelly awarding a penalty despite the initial challenge appearing to be outside the 18 yard box.  Sadly, Brian Haule's penalty was easily saved by on-loan Brighton goalkeeper Josh Pelling.

The visitors did pull a goal back in the 53rd minute and this was as controversial as the penalty. Again, it was McGlashan's pace that caused the home defence problems, and his low cross was fired at goal by Jamie England.  Although Pelling got his hands to the ball, the assistant referee indicated that the ball was over the goal line and the goal was given.

Ashford looked much more dangerous in the second half and created numerous chances, the best of which fell to Warren Harris, who found himself one on one with Pelling on the hour, only for the 'keeper to save with his feet.  Almost immediately afterwards, Horsham hit Ashford on the break and Pat Harding bundled the ball home for 4-1.

The Tangerines continued to create chances, with Warren Harris and Jamie Lawrence, who was on as a substitute, both going close.  With ten minutes to go, Ashford should have been awarded a much clearer penalty than the one they were given when McGlashen was taken out, only for the inconsistent Mr Kelly to caution the pacy winger for "simulation".  The referee then angered the home contingent by dismissing Haddow for a second bookable offence with seven minutes remaining, although in fairness to the man in black, the challenge that earned the former Slough man his cards was late.

Ashford could do little with the extra man and can have few complaints with the result, although with the chances created in the second half on another day things might have been different.