There was just the one change to the starting XI which beat Canvey Island in the Step 3 curtain raiser at Oaklands Park on Saturday with Josh Clack coming in for Lloyd Rowlatt.

Rob Hutchings got done down the right by crafty winger Ola Ogunwamide after just two minutes and his cross was steered into the back of the net by Charlie Hester-Cook to give the hosts an early lead.

The Horsham player bagged a hat-trick in that third round Sussex Cup tie last year on their way to lift the trophy, sandwiched between the Hornet’s FA Cup encounters with Barnsley, when Chi lost heavily and some fans here feared the worst.

Ogunwamide was then involved as the home team applied more pressure and won a corner which No7 James Hammond took and the visitors eventually cleared.

Isaac Bello was shouldered off the ball in the box on six minutes – no penalty according to the ref Teddy Osborn.

Next, Hutchings hooked up with Clack for a cross which came to nothing and the Chi No11 sent in a long throw moments later which was smashed away.

Hutchings’ delivery got cut out easily enough after Clack and Mo Jammeh combined and on 14 minutes Wild couldn’t quite get Joe Moore’s decent pass under control.

Emmett Dunn ended Daniel Ajakaiye’s run down the left and Kieran Magee claimed a Lee Harding delivery.

Curtis Da Costa became Mr Osborn’s first player in the book for a foul on the Horsham No11 and dead ball specialist Hammond took the set-piece.

Magee denied Shamir Fenelon at the mid-point before the same Horsham player scuffed his attempt a couple of moves later.

The away side won a free kick when Fenelon used a hand trying to control the ball and both Wild and Jammeh were instrumental in an attack that finally fizzled out.

Joe Clarke got fouled by Hester-Cook for a booking on 28 and trickery by Ogunwamide allowed him to cut inside and get a shot off which Magee gathered with no trouble.

A probing cross by Hutchings on the half hour mark after a decent Chi spell just eluded the on-rushing Clack and Dunn and then the Hornets’ winger wriggled this way and that but failed to bother Magee once again.

His teammate Ajakaiye, who both swapped sides every ten minutes or so, posed a threat in the 34^th minute only for the danger to be snuffed out and Hester-Cook blasted one over.

A hold your breath tackle from Clarke went rightfully unpunished and Dunn broke up another move.

Super skill from Ogunwamide set up Harding for a guilt edged chance that Chi somehow survived before Clarke tried to find Dunn on the overlap, and clever positioning from Ben Pashley allowed him to tidy up.

Neither side made any changes at the interval.

Pashley was in effectively a couple of times early doors and the visitors’ back line had a bit of pinball to deal with as a dangerous Horsham pressed.

Ajakaiye had a go on 51 before Chi had a decent period and Rowlatt replaced Clack.

The same Horsham player then shot after a Hammond free kick but Magee grabbed the loose ball.

Connor Cody came on for Dunn on the hour as the away side rejigged again and Jammeh sent in a low cross from the left.

Chris Dickson was introduced for his home debut before Magee saved brilliantly, or so we thought, from Hester-Cook and then denied Harvey Sparks.

In the 68^th minute Rowlatt chested the ball down and struck it out for a goal kick and Da Costa made a timely interception at the other end.

Bello’s lung bursting run on 70 led to the penalty that Wild tucked away for the equaliser.

Next, Hornets’ sub Joe Turner twisted and turned following a deflection after Hutchings nearly broke through.

A neat Bello throw teed up Wild for a shot on the swivel and Jammeh also had an attempt that went narrowly over.

It looked like Sparks’ thunderous effort was going in as we entered the last five minutes of normal time, but no.

The winner came though on 87 as Dickson tucked it home from not far out after the hosts broke down the left.

Wild and Clarke made way for Ethan Prichard and Dion Jarvis before another long Bello throw-in got cleared and Magee almost picked out an advanced Pashley.

The ref added six minutes but Horsham held on comfortably.

Chichester welcome Carshalton Athletic to Oaklands Park on Saturday 17^th August (Kick Off 3pm).

Magee, Dunn, Hutchings, Moore, Da Costa, Pashley, Clack, Clarke, Wild, Jammeh, Bello (Munt, Cody, Jarvis, Rowlatt, Prichard)