Blues brush Gate aside

A JACK Mazzone early strike was the difference at a wet Parkside as Horsham won – but it’s not quite enough to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Horsham started brightly and Mazzone tested North, with the follow up put behind by Tom Stephen for a corner, Mazzone was unmarked and found the goal from six yards out to put the visitors ahead inside three minutes.

Ten minutes into the game and the hosts finally showed signs of life. Sykes had an effort wide of the land hand post. Oli Coker was next to try his luck but his effort was blocked by the arm of a defender and scrambled away.

Manny Ogunrinde almost nodded the hosts level, he latched onto a long ball and beat the stranded Horsham keeper to the ball but his header was brilliantly cleared off the line by Bobby Price.

The second half was a stop start game with Aveley camping in Horsham’s half and the visitors happy to slow the game down at every opportunity. George

Sykes had a sighter but his effort was saved by Seymour.

Seymour was involved moments later as he took out Kenny Aileru which looked to be a penalty, but the shouts were turned away by the referee. Horsham stood strong and saw out the remainder of the game to seal three points.

BILLERICAY Town ended their home league campaign on a high with a dominant 3-0 victory over lowly Margate.

It was a dull start but Bradley Stevenson gave the Blues the lead on the 11-minute mark. Anthony Jeffrey got the better of Sinn’Kaye Christie and he cut back to Brad Stevenson whose shot went into the corner.

They came close again after an identical move minutes later. Jeffrey passed to Stevenson, but this time he rattled the crossbar.

The Blues thought they doubled their lead with 20 minutes on the clock but there was an offside in Marvel Ekpiteta’s headed goal.

The visitors were struggling but they thought they should have been awarded a spot kick as Nathan Wood was challenged in the box by Henry Lukombo.

Billericay deservedly got their second on the 34-minute mark as Brad Stevenson sent Alfie Cerulli through with a cute pass and he powerfully struck home.

The game sparked into life just after the hour mark as Anthony Jeffrey’s challenge on Peter Ojemen caused a number of Gate players to surround the referee – looking for a red card to be awarded.

The Blues wrapped up the victory when Toby Stevenson slotted home on 82 minutes following a goalmouth scramble and move up to tenth place in the table, while Margate are 17th but safe.