Horsham 0 Kingstonian 4: Hornets bow out of FA Cup

Two goals either side of half-time by Andre McCollin were added to twice in the last 20 minutes by Elvis Hammond.

It could have been a different story but for a controversial penalty decision by the referee at the start of the second half.

Horsham winger Harry Smith was brought down when through for a possible shot by defender Aaron Goode but Horsham’s appeal for a penalty was ruled out by Samuel Ogles, much to the dismay of Horsham’s fans and officials.

Kick-off was delayed until 3.30pm following the Tour of Britain cycle race passing through the town.

Horsham made two changes from the side which lost 2-0 to Redhill on Tuesday with manager Gary Charman and Harry Smith coming in for the unavailable Jamie Cade and Glen Woodburn.

As Cade was missing, Charman played himself up front instead of central defence and made his first start of the season following an ankle injury and a virus.

The first half was fairly evenly balanced with both sides having chances.

Kingstonian took the lead in the 16th minute through a breakaway attack when Tyrone Berry set-up McCollin for a left-footed finish from just inside the area which flew inside the near post.

Smith had a decent chance at the other end put could not keep his shot on target following a great run by captain Ross Morley.

Horsham keeper Gareth Williams got his fingers to an effort from the edge of the area by Aaron Goode, helping to push the ball wide.

A long ball by opposing keeper Rob Tolfrey was latched on to by Hammond who hit it first time but the ball thundered narrowly off-target.

Just before half-time Horsham went close twice when Tom Gilbert had a header blocked on the line and Charman sent the follow-up wide.

The controversial ignoring for a Horsham penalty appeal after the break was followed almost immediately by a goal at the other end with McCollin’s well-taken strike in the 51st minute.

Even though they were 2-0 down Horsham kept battling as Smith had a shot blocked following a good run and from another attack he fired narrowly wide.

Another home-grown product from their youth team, Jamie Ampleford, dragged a shot wide of the goal from a good position.

Kingstonian had not looked that much stronger than Horsham but made it looked like a thrashing with two goals in the last 20 minutes.

Hammond showed Horsham how to finish by surging into the area, breezing past a Horsham defender and beating the keeper with a lovely strike.

He then added a fourth when substitute Pico Gomez delivered an inch-perfect ball over the defence which Hammond controlled on his chest before putting away with six minutes to go.

HORNETS: Williams, Hamilton, King (Hills 73), Napper, Gilbert, Tarbie, Morley (capt), Nwachukwu, Ampleford, Charman (Bingham 80), Smith (Gibson 87).

Unused subs: Blaney, Hawthorne

KINGSTONIAN: Tolfrey, Goode, Casey, Kavanagh (Blake 82), Page, Drage, Berry, Laidler, Hammond, McCollin (Pinney 73), Addai (Gomez)

Unused subs: Gondwe, Inns

REFEREE: Samuel Ogles

ATTENDANCE: 304

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ross Morley