Wednesday 27th December 2023, Kick-off 19.30
Southern Combination League Division One
Hop Oast Stadium, Horsham
Admission: £7.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 125
For my next instalment of post Christmas action this evening, I decided to head to Horsham, attracted by this top of the table clash, and also the opportunity to catch up with an old friend who was also going. I had targetted this game a little while ago actually, hoping to revisit Roffey’s home ground at Bartholomew Way, dubbed the "Theatre of Trees", for the first time since Christmas Eve in 2011. But with poor weather forecast, Roffey sensibly decided to switch this game to Horsham FC's home ground, with its 3G pitch ensuring the game would certainly go ahead.
After a one season stay in the Premier Division, which saw them finish bottom of the table, Roffey have made an excellent start in attempting to get another crack at the higher division next season, coming into this game in second place in the table, following 12 wins and two draws from their 16 league games, and trail leaders, and tonight's visitors, Dorking Wanderers B, by 2 points, with two games in hand. Dorking Wanderers B have won 12 and drawn four of their 18 league games.
And so the game continued for most of the second half, as Roffey struggled to get any kind of foothold in the game. But then Roffey levelled on 82 minutes when Joao Andrade met a corner with a near post flicked header to divert the ball inside the left hand post. Dorking Wanderers B came close to restoring their lead on 85 minutes, when Luke Bejashvili struck a lovely shot from outside of the area which was heading for the top right corner, but the keeper pulled off an excellent fingertip save to divert the ball wide. And in the 90th minute, Roffey pulled off something of a smash and grab, when they scored what turned out to be the winner. Following a Dorking corner, Roffey broke away straight down the other end, with a good quick passing move played in Thomas Tolfrey, and although his initial shot came back off the left hand post, the ball bounced back to him, he crossed the ball low, hitting the outstretched leg of a defender, bouncing off the post and into his own net.
So, a dramatic and rather unexpected finish saw Roffey leapfrog above Dorking Wanderers to lead the table by a point, and still with two games in hand.
Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here
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