TWO GOALS from Evan Archibald got Horsham's season off to a flier as the Hornets beat Canvey Island 4-2 today.

Archibald struck in either half, adding to goals from Liam Baitup and Carney.

Canvey were the architects of their own downfall, gifting Horsham two goals with horrific backpasses which let Baitup and Carney in for their goals.

The home side struck back through Chris Moore and sub Jay Curran, but John Maggs' Horsham were rarely rattled in a successful season opener.


90 (+4): Alex Haddow releases Farrell, who fails to beat Wiseman, and that is the final action of the game.

90 (+3): Leon Antoine tries his luck with a bouncing ball from the edge of the box but clears the bar, and that should be about it.

89 mins: Wiseman has been looking decidedly dodgy, and farrell is unlucky not to profit when he almost makes another hash of a backpass.

87 mins: With Canvey chasing a third to make the last few minutes interesting, Jay Curran lunges at Eldridge and receives a yellow card for his trouble.

84 mins: GOAL That's spoiled the Horsham celebrations. Just as the lardy boys were wrming up their vocal chords, Jay Curran slams home the rebound after Seuke saves well from Antoine.

81 mins: GOAL. Farrell's first contribution is to get to the by line and cross low for Archibald, who taps in his brace. Now that's an inspired change.

80 mins: Horsham sub. Liam Baitup off, Lee Farrell on.

79 mins: GOAL. And it's an absolute gift. Andrew West's back pass is woefully short, Wiseman stays rooted to the spot and Carney races through to clip it past him in style.

76 mins: A quick Horsham free kick has us all drooling here in the press box, Russell Edlridge's chip finds Lee Carney who unleashes a stinging half volley well palmed away by Wiseman.

72 mins: Lee Carey is a confident young chap - an ambitious free kick from 30 yards out into the sea breeze floats into Wiseman's hands.

71 mins: Horsham relieve the pressure, Carey sends Baitup scampering away and Wiseman does well to save at the striker's feet.

Canvey are building the pressure now, and this will be a test of Sam Page and Eddie French's fledgling centre half partnership.

66 mins: Canvey sub: Ian Luck off, Jay Curran on.

65 mins: Some goalmouth action. Leon Gordon whips in a cross which Leon Antoine can only get the slightest of touches to.

There's also plenty of frustration for the Hornets - Archibald wanders offside and the linesman's flag has been up and down like a yo-yo.

Frustration growing among the home faithful as Canvey continue to hoof hopeful balls up field, the second half has had none of the spark of the first.

58 mins: All these yellows are spoiling what is an entertaining battle. Moore goes in the book, and Horsham are easing their way up the field, like an American football team eating up the yards one by one.

55 mins: At least something is happening now - Kevin Dobinson goes in the book for an agricultural lunge at Sam Page.

54 mins: Tarkan Mustafa is next to have his name talen after he bundles Alex Haddow to the deck and Horsham have a free kick in a dangerous position. But Lee Carey can only find keeper
Ricky Wiseman.
52 mins: Liam Baitup is harshly penalised for handball. David Lee lumps it towards the box and Chris Moore's flicked header is scrambled past the post by Paul Seuke.

Ball's spent more tim in the air than the Snoopy blimp in the opening moments of the half, both sides could do with settling down.

We're back underway here, Horsham looking to build on a 2-1 lead.

HORSHAM have taken a 2-1 half time lead at Canvey Island today in their Ryman Premier Division opener.

Evan Archibald got the Hornets off a great start in the 12th minute when he latched into Lee Carey's pass to beat Ricky Wiseman.

After Chris Moore's header put Canvey back on terms, Liam Baitup took adavntage of a defensive horror show to put Horsham back in front.

45 mins: It should have been three, a cute pass from Carney plays Archibald in but the lanky striker flashed the shot high and wide from just inside the box.

42 mins: Lee Carney sees yellow for clattering into opposite number Kevin Dobinson.

41 mins: Canvey come storming back up the other end. Luck is teed up by Antoine but Seuke easily gathers the effort.

40 mins: GOAL. Liam Baitup takes advantage of some shocking defending to pounce on a short backpass and skip round Wiseman before rolling the ball into the open net.

37 mins: Horsham would have had a second but for the offside flag. In a carbon copy of the opener Lee Carney slips Baitup in, but he was marginally off.

33 mins: Alex Haddow is the first man in the book for scything down that problematic Leon Gordon.

31 mins: Leon Gordon has got Russell Eldridge worried, he concedes a dangeroud looking free kick. Pauk Seuke just manages to get enough knuckle on the set piece to punch it away.

29 mins: A quiet period ends with Lee carney giving away possession, and Leon Antione had a dig from range which was woefully wide.

25 mins: Archibald's touch lets Charman in, but under pressure can only scuff his shot at Wiseman.

Both teams shook hands in the pre-match line up, as part of the FA Respect campaign - but that seems to have gone out of the window with some tasty tackles flying in.

21 mins: Ding ding battle this. Horsham's trademark free kick to Gary Charman almost produces a goal for Liam Baitup.

19 mins: GOAL. But the Hornets do not hold out long. David Lee swings in another free kick and Canvey skipper Chris Moore powers in his header at the far post.

16 mins: Trying to hit back, Canvey force two corners and now have a free kick in a dangerous position.....but Horsham deal with the danger.

13 mins: The Hornets tails are up. Gary Charman crashses an attempt into the side netting, and moments later Laim Baitup attempts an acrobatic effort, but from an offside position.

12 mins: GOAL. Excellent stuff from Horsham as they spring from midfield. Lee Carey slides Evan Archibald in and after a quick glance across at the linesman who kept his flag down galloped into the box before beating Ricky Wiseman at his near post

11 mins: Canvey winger Leon Gordon is getting a lot of apsce down the right, but has yet to do anything with it, he has just forced their first corner.

The hosts are playing with the verve of a recently promoted side, let's see how they play come December when the realities of the Premier Division has sapped their spirit.

Sam Page looks the part, and up front Evan Archibald is deceptively quick. Still no chances of note thought.

2 mins: First half chance. Ian Luck gets away down the left for Canvey but he snatches at his shot.

SAM PAGE dons the skipper's armband and Evan Archibald has shaken off a dead leg to line up against Canvey Island today.


Canvey: Ricky Wiseman; Tarkan Mustafa, Andrew West, Richard Halle, Chris Moore, Kevin Dobson, Leon Gordon, David Lee, Leon Antoine, Ian Luck, Gabriel Fanibuyan.

Subs: Craig Davidson, Ben Patten, Jay Curran, Stuart Batch, Mel Capleton.

Horsham Paul Seuke; Jack Page, Russell Eldridge, Eddie French, Sam Page, Lee Carney, Lee Carey, Gary Charman, Evan Archibald, Laim Baitup, Alex Haddow.

Subs: Lee Farrell, Andy Howard, Ian Payne, Shane Graham, Michael Dale.