Newhaven cruised in to the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Carlsberg Vase after comfortably beating Horley Town 6-2 at the New Defence on Saturday afternoon.

The Dockers will now travel to Southwick, of Division Three, on Saturday 21st September, after the Wickers overcame Saltdean United 4-2 after extra-time at Hill Park.

Newhaven fell behind twice in a frantic five-goal first half. Ebou Jallow and Ryan Knight had equalised twice for the visitors after Harry Banks and Ashley Nadasan had given Horley the lead on two occasions.

Terry Gacias, Dockers captain for the day, gave his side a half-time lead when his long range strike went through goalkeeper Craig McLeod’s legs.

Newhaven turned it on in the second half and three unanswered goals won the game for the away side – Knight firing in off the bar and Tyler Goatcher helping himself to two quick-fire goals.

Manager Paul Harrison made three changes to the side that started the win over Ringmer the previous weekend.

Daniel Murray came in for the injured Greg Manton and Gacias replaced the unavailable Mark Probert. The only other change saw Goatcher replace Jake Holmes, who rejoined Broadbridge Heath during the week.

James Rhodes, a new signing from East Preston, had to settle for a place on the bench, alongside Freddie Beale, Jason Goddard and goalkeeper Tom Bradford.

It has been a good few years since a Newhaven team has progressed in this competition and it wasn’t looking good when the hosts took the lead.

Jayson Sowter had already had a goal chalked off for offside up one end, when up the other a cross from Jordan Henry evaded everyone in the box, except for Banks who finished well at the back post.

Newhaven wasted no time in replying though and scored straight from the kick off. A swift passing move, from back to front, ended with Lee Robinson finding Jallow with a cutback and the winger finishing coolly past McLeod.

The home side looked dangerous from set-pieces and had a weapon in long-throw specialist Ryan Brackpool. And it was from one of these throw-ins that Horley regained the lead. Matt Rendell’s header came back off the bar but Nadasan was on hand to score from close range.

Again the visitors weren’t behind for long and themselves scored from a long throw in to the box. Dave Altendorff flicked on a Goatcher throw and Knight was there to guide the ball in to the net.

Jake Buss had to keep out a couple of efforts from the throw-ins and Newhaven wasted some chances with both Robinson and Goatcher misfiring, the latter hitting the post with one effort. Gacias also saw a strike from outside the box come back off the post.

But Gacias wasn’t to be denied a second time when he again had space to shoot from long range. This time it was on target, straight down McLeod’s throat, but the home goalkeeper let it slip through his legs and Newhaven had a lead to take in to half-time.

The second half was a completely different story with Newhaven on top for most of the 45 minutes. Goatcher sent a couple of efforts wide and Robinson hit the far post with a shot from a tight angle.

Knight had seen enough and decided to try his luck from 30 yards out. His pin-point shot hit the bar and, according to the referee’s assistant, dropped over the line before bouncing out.

This settled the visitors down and they began to dominate the ball and create chances – it was only a matter of time before another goal followed.

And it came when Goatcher finally got himself on the score sheet. Some tidy interplay down the left between Sean Breach, Jallow and Rhodes, on for his debut in place of Altendorff, ended with the latter squaring for Goatcher who side footed past McLeod from the edge of the box.

Like London buses, a second goal quickly followed for Goatcher. Robinson found the striker in the box and he flicked the ball in to the net with the outside of his foot.

Robinson had a chance to make it seven but blazed over when well placed and Jason Goddard’s cross/shot hit the crossbar. It didn’t matter though as the Dockers kept their Wembley dream alive with a comfortable win.

Newhaven: Jake Buss, Jayson Sowter (Jason Goddard), Daniel Murray, Terry Gacias (c), Ryan Knight, Scott Edwards, Lee Robinson (Freddie Beale), Sean Breach, Tyler Goatcher, Dave Altendorff (James Rhodes), Ebou Jallow. Unused sub: Tom Bradford.
Booked: Knight

Referee: Ermin Isakovic

[yop_poll id=”25″]