Horley loss all but ends Tadley Calleva’s Combined Counties play-off push

Tadley Calleva’s chances of a play-off run are all but finished.

They hosted Horley Town on Saturday at a sun-kissed Barlow’s Park, knowing that a win was vital to keep their hopes alive.

There were three changes from the win over Cobham a week prior, as Ash Neal, Adam Everiss and Sheldon Wright were awarded starts.

A scrappy opening sequence saw a yellow for winger Alex Miller, with neither side looking particularly comfortable.

Horley took their chance when it came however, as a ball to the edge of the box was rifled past Craig Atkinson to put the hosts 1-0 down.

It was still all to play for, but Tadley’s task became much harder when they gave the ball away in their own half.

Horley capitalised quickly, scoring easily for 2-0 after 22 minutes.

Tadley simply hadn’t got going, and a Miller effort wide of the post was the nearest they’d get to a reply as the first-half drew to a close.

Tadley knew they needed another trademark comeback to keep their already slim play-off hopes alive.

The second-half did see the fighting spirit required.

Brad Neal saw a header go wide from just a few yards out, before manager Joe Lawler rolled the dice with some substitutes.

With ten minutes to go Horley made it three.

A hopeful long ball was allowed to bounce, leaving the Horley attackers to clean up and snatch a 3-0 lead.

They added a fourth just a few minutes later, before Ash Neal bagged a consolation in added time.

A 4-1 loss leaves Calleva six points off the play-offs with two games left to play.

Any late entry into the play-offs is not impossible, but certainly highly improbable.

Tadley face Epsom & Ewell away from home on Saturday, before hosting Knaphill on the final day in a fortnight’s time.