FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Dorking 0

Horley Town 0

HORLEY Town manager Ali Rennie was pleased to still be in the competition after his side put in a limp display against fellow Combined Counties League side Dorking.

Town were outclassed in the first half and only poor finishing from their Mole Valley opponents kept Horley alive for a replay on Tuesday night.

He said: "We were much better in the second half but they dominated the first half so I think a draw was probably a fair result.

"We didn't play as well as we know we can so from that point of view I'm happy to have come away with a draw and we'll take our chances in a replay."

Horley had gone into this cup tie on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Banstead, but striker Tom Thomas - who had netted a hat-trick in mid-week was unable to help Town continue their goal-scoring exploits.

And while the Chicks had lost both opening matches, neutral observers will have wondered which was the unbeaten league side as Dorking took the game to their opponents.

Dorking saw plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but Horley held firm, the nearest Dorking came was when a post was struck.

However, Horley came more into the game in the second period, but it was still Dorking who were carving out the better chances.

The home side will have thought they had the game won with 10 minutes to go.

Following a goal mouth scramble, the ball fell to last season's leading scorer Phil Page, his shot across the goal hitting the inside of the post and bouncing out across the face of the goal, but none of his teammates could get on the end of it.

In an eventful last few minutes of the game, Dorking striker Junior Gymiah was sent off for a foul on the Horley captain.

Nevertheless, Rennie maintains he is happy with his sides start to the season that has seen his side unbeaten.

"We were not far away last season and have strengthened this time around. Our problem was scoring goals and we have signed Thomas from Bletchingly and he already looks a handful," he added.

"We've got every chance of having a very good season if we can play to our potential."

Horley: Wastell, Bryant, T Jupp, Guscott (capt) Weller, Eldred, Norris, Alfieri, Pullin, Thomas, Gilbert. Subs used Thompson, Death. Not used Clarke, M Gilbert, Green.