The Captains strategy of messing up the match time meant the team turned up for a 12:30 match whilst Oxted arrived for a 14:00 match was not the slickest move in the tactical playbook with Richard Ledwich unable to play the later match, thankfully David Skingley offered his services to keep the squad at 13.

The long wait in the cold didn’t affect Horley though as they diligently put in some practice with Shaun Brennan training his glove work. Andy Ho also taking a chance to escape for a quick caffeine hit

After last weeks performance, Horley knew they could take something from newly promoted Oxted and set about the task with relish. Zeeraq Mustafa working hard, harrying the Oxted defenders, ably supported by Jack Sangster, trying to force that mistake.

Oxted controlled the ball well in the early stages of the game despite Horley pressure but they struggled to create clear opportunities with a few shots from wide angles, with Liam Bashford expertly shepherding them wide and Shaun Brennan equal in goal to what Oxted did manage to squeeze off. Oxted also struggled to have an effective short corner routine with the sticky Oriel pitch.

Horley came a bit more into the game, with some surging runs by Andy Ho and Connor McAllister to get the ball into Oxteds half. Jake Hodges had a late chance to deflect the ball goalwards, but Oxted keeper saved well.

Half time finished 0-0 and Horley were keen as mustard to get something from the game. The 2nd half saw Horley keep up the press and Connor McAllister intercepted a pass from the Oxted defender to calmly take draw out the Oxted Keeper, spin and flick the ball home past the recovering runs on the Oxted defenders, 1-0 Horley!!!

Oxted were not perturbed though and were soon back in it. Oxted squeezed a weak shot off that rebounded off the Horley keeper but they snaffled that loose ball to force it home to equalise. As usual with Horley, heads don’t go down and they work bloody hard. Alex Coote won a short corner that Connor slipped left to Ed Cooper who expertly flicked it over a keeper who went ground really easily, lovely finish!

2 soon became 3, with a repeat of Alex winning a short corner, Connor angling a ball to the right post for Jack Sangster to deflect the ball skilfully home, for 3-1. As an aside Horleys conversion rate of short corners must be the best in the league!!!

Then it became a battle, with Oxted determined to try and get something from the game. The midfield fought hard and Ross Nel stood up to be counted with some amazing diving tackles and awesome stop from a lifted shot at goal (god knows how he did it!). Ralph Muvhiwaa and James Faires battled hard on the flanks against some skilful players and helped keep Oxted at bay but the pressure told and they managed to grab one back.

Horley just showed fantastic desire to want the win and just kept working, David Skingley rotating with the forwards to get in some great sprints to pressure the Oxted players who were a tad upset, with one threatening to have a fight with the Horley captain at one point as he didn’t like being tackled.

Horley held on for their first league win since February and it felt amazing!!!!! A top effort from all. MoM went to Ross Nel, with Connor and Shaun a close second and for DoD their was only ever one nomination of Alex Coote for mixing up start times.

Special thanks to Neil Hodges and Mike Hughes who umpired and hang around for the game to start ?