Horsham vs Cray Wanderers
Isthmian Premier – Friday 18th April, 2025 – Match Report
Horsham 3
Sparks 17, 90+3, Rodrigues 75
Cray Wanderers 0
Cray Wanderers first of a double header of Easter games against promotion chasing sides ended in defeat as Horsham maintained their push for the title with in the end a comfortable win against a nine man Wands side at the finish.
Cray were looking to repeat the win at Billericay Town two weeks ago which helped open up the title race between Dartford, Town and Horsham but an early deflected Harvey Sparks strike put the Hornets ahead. The Wands stuck to their task until the last twenty minutes when Eze Ebouzeme was sent off for a second booking and four minutes later Lucas Rodrigues towering header made it 2-0. In added time, Tom Bonner was also dismissed for a second offence and direct from the free kick Sparks scored his second of the game.
In front of a large crowd of over 1880 Cray now under the confirmed management for next season of Tim O’Shea alongside Mark Stimson as Assistant made two changes to the side which beat Wingate & Finchley last Saturday with Shaun Rowley returning in goal for Kevin Kardel and Quade Taylor for Eze Ebouzeme. Horsham had been in a rich vein of form in 2025 and had won their last six league and cup games and strong defensively. This match also saw the ten year anniversary of the appointment of manager Dominic di Paola who named an unchanged side from the team which beat Carshalton Athletic last Saturday.
The opening exchanges were very even with Cray threatening from a Frankie Raymond free kick which was glanced off target by Remi Sutton. For Horsham, James Hammond’s strike was deflected past the post by a Horsham player then for Cray, Soul Kader hooked an effort wide.
In the 17th minute Horsham took the lead when Harvey Sparks strode forward and his shot from outside the area looked to take a wicked deflection possibly off Tom Bonner and gave Shaun Rowley no chance in goal.
Three minutes later it should really have been two nil when Lucas Rodrigues inside the area played the ball across to Ola Ogunwamide but Rowley did well to make an instinctive save. Then the striker did well to break into the area but his shot cannoned back off Rowley onto him and behind.
Cray were still very much in the game but never really threatened ex-Wands Lewis Carey in the Horsham goal with the closest coming for Kader who volleyed a Darion Dowrich cross off target. There was a blow though for the Wands when Sutton had to go off with an injury and replaced by Eze Ebouzeme.
The game after that became more competitive with yellow cards for Reece Myles-Meekums for Horsham and before the break for Tom Bonner and Charlie Hester-Cook for the Hornets. For Cray, Ebouzeme saw a shot blocked but at half time it was still all very much to play for.
HT: 1-0
The second half began lively with Nyren Clunis booked and a James Hammond free kick was blocked by the Wands wall. Then for Horsham, Rowley made a good stop to turn aside an effort from Myles-Meekums.
Cray did threaten to get back into it and Kader saw a low effort saved by Carey down the middle of the goal. For Horsham, Sparks who had a fine game for the hosts put over a cross for Rodrigues but Rowley did well to hold the ball.
Just after the hour with the game still on a knife edge Ebouzeme was booked and then ten minutes later in the 72nd minute was shown a second yellow for a foul just outside the box on Myles-Meekums.
Three minutes later from Danny Barker saw an effort from outside the area pushed over by Rowley. Then from the corner it was 2-0 as the ball was played out to Hammond whose cross was met by a towering header from Rodrigues which left Rowley no chance and to all intents and purposes seal the three points with Cray now down to ten men.
Rodrigues almost scored again shortly after but the ball was cleared off the line and came close again when another ex-Wand, Chris Dickson burst down the right but Rowley did well to turn the ball over the bar.
With the game virtually over, Cray were reduced to nine men when Bonner was sent off for a second booking for an off the ball incident close to the right touchline. From the free kick with Cray perhaps at a bit of sixes and sevens Horsham scored a third when Sparks ball into the box went straight into the net amidst a crowd of players in the six yard box.
In the end Horsham were deserved winners but maybe the final scoreline doesn’t truly reflect it was a close match for 75 minutes. Horsham remain two points behind Dartford in 3rd level on 81 points with Billericay Town with all three winning at home and after Dover’s faint title hopes were ended by Dartford means with two matches to go all stand a chance of winning the title. Dartford visit Cray on Easter Monday and could win the league if they win and Billericay who visit Canvey Island and Horsham who go to Bognor Regis Town both lose. A draw for each means they could still win the title if Dartford lose to Carshalton on the final day but still all to play for.
For Cray there was nothing really riding on this game other than an opportunity to test themselves against one of the title contenders once again and despite perhaps losing their discipline towards the end certainly gave it their all and at least have a couple of days to prepare for the challenge of Dartford.
Horsham: Lewis Carey, Harvey Sparks, Danny Barker, Isaac Philpot, Jack Strange, James Hammond, Charlie Hester-Cook (Samir Fenelon, 63), Olu
Ogunwamide (Chris Dickson, 85), Lucas Rodrigues (Jack Brivio, 81), Reece Myles-Meekums (Daniel Ajakaiye, 83), Lee Harding (Jake Elliott, 87)
Booked: Myles-Meekums 26, Hester-Cook 41
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Ike Orji, Remi Sutton (Eze Ebouzeme, 33), Tom Bonner, Darion Dowrich, Quade Taylor, Lateef Adaja (Tom Borders, 80), Frankie Raymond, Nyren Clunis, Josh Williams, Soul Kader: Subs: Kevin Kardel, George Clark
Sent Off: Ebouzeme (2 cautions), 72, Bonner (2 cautions, 90+3)
Booked: Bonner 41, Clunis 48, Ebouzeme 61, Orji 75
Referee: Redmond Egan
Assistants: Konrod Kaminski, Christopher Findlay-Geer
Att: 1882
