Conceding two goals late in the first half gave Chipstead a mountain to climb, & ultimately proved too much this time, as Horley Town claimed all three points for a 5-2 win in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South at the High Road on Saturday afternoon

After a quiet, even first 20 minutes, Chipstead managed to put some good moves together - Zac Jakubowski had the first real shot, but it went over the target, & then Michael Dixon shot just past a post

Skipper Robb Sheridan had to make a vital block to stop a Horley attack, while an Emmanuel Robe run at the other end was stopped at the expense of a corner, which was defended

Evan Kelly made a towering header at the back to stymie another advance from the visitors, before Robe got away down the right, cutting back from the byline, the loose ball falling to Jakubowski, who shot over the bar

Aaron Lamont’s free-kick was held by the keeper, after Jakubowski had been tripped, whilst another was soon headed wide by Dixon

After some tenacious defending in the home ranks, Kacper Nozka set Dixon free, but his shot cannoned off a defender

Cameron Lewis-Brown, looking to repeat his match-winning strike midweek, made a deep run upfield, but shot just wide with his left foot this time

After all that pressure, it was galling to concede the lead just before halftime - Horley, with three ex-Chipstead players in their ranks - Wayne Colman, George Craig & Lewis Pearch, made a concerted attack on the home goal, Chips couldn’t clear the danger, & it was Pearch, who curled the loose ball around Harvey Keogh & into the net

Robe & Dela Desouza combined down the left to try to get a quick equaliser, but it was Horley who scored to nick a second, as a ball into the home box fell to their no. 11, who toepoked it home to give his side a big advantage at the break

Manager Justin Fevrier introduced to the action Naquarm Clarke-Douglas, who had scored two goals for the under-18s in their fine FA Youth Cup win midweek at Steyning, & Richesse Mvioki, who had scored with a clinical strike at Knaphill seven days ago, as second-half subs, & they seemed to make an immediate impact, as Clarke-Douglas had a shot charged down, Mvioki’s follow-up hit a defender’s hand, & the referee gave a penalty, which Robe tucked away to make it 2-1

Chipstead nearly mustered an equaliser, as Dixon’s shot on the turn was pushed wide by the Horley keeper at the foot of a post - they went close again, as a Robe free-kick was headed goalwards by Lee Quincey, but the keeper managed to parry the ball away

Keogh made a brave save one-on-one at the other end to prevent a Horley third, & Chips did think they were level, when more good work by Mvioki saw the ball touched in by Dixon at the far post, but he was flagged offside

Again the home side was left to rue their missed chances, as Horley scored a fluke third - Keogh rushed out of his area to clear his lines, the ball hit the centre-forward, could have gone anywhere, but ended up in the back of the net & it was 3-1

Stunned again, Chipstead had to push forward - Sheridan had an effort on goal blocked for a corner, Quincey delivered it, but Kelly’s goalbound header was cleared

Minutes later, it was 4-1 - the home defence couldn’t clear a corner, & the Horley captain headed in the loose ball

It soon became 5-1, as Pearch bore down on goal again, but his attempt seemed to deflect off a defender for an own goal

As Chips sought a consolation, great interpassing down the left teed up Robe, who shot wide - but, as the game entered added time, Mvioki was fouled on the edge of the box, another penalty was given, the Horley sub was sent off for the challenge, & Robe scored his second goal of the day from the spot

But Chipstead were left to lick their wounds, as the game finished 5-2, with the team 16th in the early league table, ahead of their next game at home to Chessington & Hook Utd. in the Isuzu FA Vase next Saturday