A GOOD sized Bank Holiday crowd saw Bookham edge this hotly contested game that saw some weak refereeing that almost caused the game to boil over.

Following their somewhat drab performance on the Saturday - drawing 0-0 at Guildford - Bookham were determined to show some attacking intent. Alex McGregor continued to partner Mark Jarman up front in the absence of Chris Woodward and he put in a much improved performance that helped the home side show much more going forward.

From the first minute both sides were putting in some hefty challenges and the home left back Ollie Dicks was lucky not to find his way into the referee's book following a string of rash challenges.

However, the visitors responded in kind and despite a number of poor challenges from both sides it was not until the half-hour mark that the first Horley player found his way into the book.

By this time Bookham were a goal up from the penalty spot. After 20 minutes a Billy Ramsey corner was flicked on at the near post only for a defender to palm the ball away to prevent Stuart Padgett from heading home. Again a puzzling lack of any card, however the reliable James Piercy dispatched the spot-kick with his usual aplomb.

Bookham then had a definite penalty turned down when Jarman was pulled down well inside the box but somehow the referee and linesman decided that the offence was outside and awarded a free-kick which was well defended.

The ball was cleared up the other end and Guscott took advantage of a lack of concentration to pull the match level on 32 minutes.

A spell of concerted pressure by Bookham was rewarded on 42 minutes as the visitors failed to clear a corner with enough conviction and the ball was returned into the box for Jarman to provide an excellent finish.

The second half saw Horley start much the stronger using their extra height well as they tried to take advantage of some poor discipline that saw Bookham give away several free-kicks in dangerous positions.

Their second equaliser was again subject to some bizarre refereeing on the hour mark. As Bookham played the ball forward Alex McGregor clearly offside made no attempt to play the ball and the referee rightly did not blow his whistle, however a defender picked the ball up to take the non existent free-kick. The referee then blew but gave the offside much to the consternation of the home team.

Horley keeper Lockwood launched a massive free-kick right into the Bookham box that caused confusion between Aburn and his defenders allowing Norris the easiest of finishes.

Horley now looked the most likely to grab a winner but with the game looking to end in a draw as the clock ran down Piercy's 91st minute corner was only half cleared and following Gridley's blocked shot substitute Julian Van Gelder set up Jarman for the decisive strike.

The final frantic few minutes of injury time saw the visitors' Nathan Jupp sent off for two bookings in quick succession.

Two days earlier Bookham played a fairly drab goalless draw at struggling Guildford.

The home side had arguably the better of the contest but Bookham had a glorious chance late on when Piercy's pinpoint cross found Jarman with the goal gaping but his header flew over the bar and the sides shared the points.