Horsham 2 Leatherhead 1

Horsham edged through to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup with two fine
finishes from Daniel Ajakaiye and Lucas Rodrigues while Trevan Robinson opened
his account for Leatherhead with an exquisite strike in this tantalising replay at the
CWCS on Tuesday.

In a marked contrast to Saturday’s goal less draw at Fetcham Grove, this was a fast-
paced end-to-end thriller that could have seen a hatful of goals for either side.
Tanners set out their attacking intentions from the outset. With less than two minutes
played, Tyler Cox sent a curling delivery into the Hornets’ box that just went wide of
the post.

Horsham were forced to make an early change after 12 minutes, with Tom Kavanagh
replacing an injured Jack Brivio.

Hornets broke the deadlock within a minute of the substitution with a fine solo effort
from Ajakaiye. The former Kingstonian striker picked up a loose ball at halfway and
ran unchallenged before unleashing a powerful 25 yard shot that flew into the corner
of the net.

Straight from the restart, Leatherhead’s Robinson broke clear of his marker and
attempted to lob goalkeeper Lewis Carey from forty yards, with the ball going just
wide.

Play quickly moved down to the other end, with Jack Mazzone drilling a low shot just
inches wide of the visitors’ goal.

Tanners continued to press forward and were rewarded with a well-deserved equaliser
on the half hour mark. Robinson picked up a loose ball in midfield, before taking a
couple of touches and driving it hard into the Horsham net from the edge of the box.

Horsham missed a chance to retake the lead on 47 minutes. James Hammond’s free
kick was not effectively dealt with by the Tanners defence and Jack Strange’s volley
crashed against the crossbar before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

The hosts then had a dominant ten-minute spell without being able to force a
breakthrough before Leatherhead had their own opportunity to take the lead on 64
minutes. Alpha Diallo succeeded in getting a cross into the box from the byline, but
an advancing Dan Hector scooped his shot high over the bar.

Hornets continued to press the Tanners defence, with Lee Harding striking the bar
with a rasping shot on 74 minutes before the tie was effectively decided by another
fine Horsham goal.

Rodrigues replaced Charlie Hester-Cook mid-way through the second half and the
Horsham sub made his mark on the tie on 82 minutes, breaking clear down the middle
and drilling a superb low shot into the corner of the Tanners net.

Deep in added time Leatherhead won a couple of corners but were unable to find a
second goal to take this pulsating tie to extra-time.

Tanners will now prepare for Saturday’s visit to Herne Bay in the FA Trophy on the
back of two competitive performances against Horsham, where they more than
matched their Isthmian Premier Division opponents over 180 minutes of competitive
football.

Horsham: Lewis Carey, Bobby Price, Harvey Sparks, Charlie Hester-Cook (Lucas
Rodrigues 67), Jack Strange, Danny Barker, James Hammond, Jack Brivio (Tom
Kavanagh 12), Jack Mazzone, Daniel Ajakaiye, Lee Harding (Shamir Fenelon 83)

Leatherhead: Brian Okonkwo, Alpha Diallo, Tyler Cox, Jamie Splatt (Jerry Puemo
77), Ollie Cook, Fikayo Atewologun, Trey Masikini (Gus Sow 67), Kenny Beaney,
Trevan Robinson (Omarr Lawson 77), Daniel Hector, Fabio Saraiva,