It was a PO postcode derby on Saturday as Moneyfields and Horndean, separated by less than 8 miles as the crow flies, faced off at the John Jenkins Stadium in Isthmian South Central Division action.

An unchanged starting XI was named by Callum Glen as Moneys looked to repeat last weekends 3 points and clean sheet. Just one change on the bench as Jordan Pile replaced Ibrahim Busari.

Horndean came into the game with their last win in any competition, coming way back on August 9th. That was when they beat Binfield away, on the opening league game of the season. That poor form showed through in the opening 45 minutes.

Moneys got off to an unusual flyer for the season on average so far. Just 7 minutes in, Faris Khallouqi released Ciaran Martin down the left wing. Martin proceeded along the goal line and into the box where he delicately lifted a cross to the edge of the 6 yard box, just in line with the back post. Simba Mlambo was there to expertly and calmly nod the ball into the far corner to give Moneys an early lead. That’s two in two for the former player of Bognor Regis Town, who we face next.

The pressure on Horndeans back line continued for much of the first half. If it wasn’t for two great 1 on 1 saves by Horndean keeper Myles Bowman, it could have been a much more comfortable afternoon for Moneys. Simba Mlambo first was closed down well by Bowman to save after being put through by Jack Farrier. Then minutes later, James Franklyn saw a strong hand from Bowman stop his effort, after having been put through by a brilliant flick on from Tayo Singerr.

Horndeans best effort came as Ryan Carroll spotted Moneys shot-stopper Malachi Osei-Owusu off his line. From just outside the centre circle, Carroll tried an audacious lob, but Malachi made it look comfortable. He brought the ball down with one hand before bouncing the ball like a basketball player and then stepping over the ball to calmly pass it back out into play.

Just before half time, James Franklyn had a superb long range curling effort again saved by Myles Bowman. He shot from the left hand side of the box, around 20 yards out, but Bowman produced a fantastic diving save to his left to tip the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

Half Time – Moneyfields 1-0 Horndean

The second half was a much tighter, but also scrappier affair as Horndean did their best to get back into the game.

Not long was gone in the second half when Brandon Chebby must have been convinced he’d equalised for ‘the Deans’. A low curling effort from just outside the Moneys box with his left foot, daisy-cut its way across the turf, around Osei-Owusu in goal, and onto the inside of the far post. It did however, only go bobbling across the goal mouth where an on-rushing Horndean attacker in Ewan Lynch tried to put the loose ball into the net. However Tom Jeffes found some pace from his 20’s and blocked superbly to deny Lynch. The referees assistant had put his flag up as Lynch was offside, but it was a fantastic piece of defending and ‘playing to the whistle’ by Jeffes.

That was really all the chances of note in the second half as it became scrappy and much more physical. Tayo Singerr and Louis Gates both went into the book for late, poorly timed challenges on Horndean players and towards the end, Tom Jeffes also went into the book for cynically pulling down Chebby as he tried to join a counter attack.

In the 73rd minute, Callum Glen freshened things up with Kieran Alcock and Jack Lumsden coming on for Louis Gates and Faris Khallouqi. Following on from that Lawrence Cooper came on the in 83rd minute for Max Smith. Whilst he’s not been mentioned in the report for key moments of the game, Max Smith was Man of the Match following a superb showing in midfield. Always available as an outlet from defence, winning balls back all over the pitch and getting involved in plenty of attacks too. He was one of probably 3 or 4 men alongside Mlambo, Farrier and Jeffes who could have been a justifiable pick for Man of the Match.

Full Time – Moneyfields 1-0 Horndean

That win took Moneys up to 14 points and 10th in the table, having started the day in 13th. We face Bognor Regis Town next, at 7.45pm on Wednesday evening at Chichester City’s Oaklands Park. We are next at home, on Saturday 18th as we host Raynes Park Vale at 3pm.

Man of the Match sponsored by Platinum Restoration: Max Smith