A gritty and spirited performance was crowned by a late-late winning goal from Lee Garnham in the back end of extra-time booking the Barrowmen their place in round 2 (proper) of the FA Vase.

Garnham's winner, a truly magical moment on Halloween which sparked wild scenes of celebration among the Town faithful and indeed the players!

We came into this eagerly awaited Cup tie with a strong side available. Matt Dodd and Lewis Levoi returning to the side with Shaun Skipper also in from the bench. Kerry Parsons and Callum Towse still injured. New signings Hartley and Hunt on the bench alongside Peskett, McMahon and Asseffi.

So on a sunny Saturday at the Shooting Field, in front of a bumper crowd of around 300 swelled by a large visiting contingent from just up the A24 the match started with the visitors the stronger and the divisional difference evident from the off. In fact they could have gone ahead after barely a couple of minutes when Hornets winger Darren Boswell broke down the left to cross low into the box, thankfully though striker Terry Dodd (Matt's bro) scuffed his shot right in front of goal enabling Shaun Skipper to clear the danger.

Throughout the whole of the first-half Horsham applied pretty much all the pressure, running hard and passing incisively and constantly pinning us in our half and stretching us at the back.

But we defended well, remaining solid and resolute with Dan Gainsford doing a great job as ever and also some good notable work from Skipper. Ben Rose was well in command of his box.
The trouble was we found it hard to break out and in the rare instances when we did we had a frustrating habit of losing the ball too easily. We were also hampered by the loss of Lewis Levoi on about 15 minutes with a popped hamstring. Jordan Peskett the replacement.

At the back though we continued to snap into the tackles and as a team kept our shape. Half time - Town 0 Horsham 0

The second-half started a little differently. We got forward more with Garnham making his presence felt and Rob Clark and Craig Knowles starting to run the hard miles, Peskett also making inroads. Clarky actually had a golden opportunity to put us ahead early on when a through ball into their box was fumbled by Hornets keeper Williams straight to Rob's feet. Frustratingly though Clarky rounded the keeper only to put his shot just wide of an empty net.

Minutes later Clarky broke down the left to deliver a decent cross into their box for Knowles to miss-hit on the volley unmarked.
As the half wore on the Hornets continued to buzz around our goal but their finishing was lacking and with that they became progressively more and more frustrated.

We continued to keep our shape and worked hard at the back with the sublime Gainsford and Ash Finch well in control and Rob Hare and Skipper continuing to work well.

Near the end of ninety minutes Dodd and Elms linked up well to find Peskett out wide to cross for Gainsford to head just over.

Ninety minutes 0-0 and all to play for.

We entered the half-hour extra-time period with our 'tails up', continuing to frustrate our opponents with a resolute game plan, remaining solid at the back.

We also got forward early on with Clark hitting a long range strike at the keeper.As the clock started to run down and with Horsham tiring and our stout defending, it looked like no one was going score and the prospect of a midweek replay up at Gorings Mead loomed large
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But a tired boxer who's given it his all is always prone to a late 'knock-out' and who better to deliver that blow than Lee Garnham!
With five minutes left on the clock, a top-drawer Peskett cross from the right found Garnham in the box who held off his markers to power a brilliant header wide of their keeper and into the far side of the net and send the Shooting Field into raptures! 1-0 TOWN!!!!

In the final few minutes the Hornets desperately tried to snatch a late equalizer but the goal had knocked it all out of them and it was too little, too late (for them).

The shrill of the final whistle sparked more wild celebrations among the players and around the ground.A truly great and memorable day for Steyning Town CFC on which every man in a red and white shirt on the day can be proud!!

Next round, Saturday 21 November.

Final score Town 1 Horsham 0 (aet)

Town line-up Rose, Skipper, Hare, Elms, Finch (capt), Gainsford, Knowles, Dodd, Levoi, Garnham, Clark Subs - Hartley, McMahon, Peskett, Asseffi, Hunt

Crowd - 280