Robbie Collins scored his first goal since September 21 as Horsham ground out a crucial 1-0 win over second placed Dulwich Hamlet at Queen Street.

It was revenge for their defeat at Champion Hill on the opening day of the season in Division One South and fully deserved in a match of few notable goalscoring opportunities but no little endeavour from both sides.

The visitors had the better of the first half. Steffan Ball was twice denied by Ian Chatfield and Eben Allen glanced a header past the right post as Horsham struggled to make an impression on the game.

However, as the half wore on, the Hornets came more to the fore with Collins, playing on the right, starting a dangerous move which culminated in Justin Bowen deflecting Dave Flemming's low, driven cross over his own goal.

Horsham increased the pressure after the interval with James Grant's marauding runs through the centre causing the visiting defence plenty of problems.

His 30-yard effort in the 54th minute sailed narrowly past the post and a close-range drive was deflected for a corner after Gary Charman had battled well to win the ball on the bye-line.

Only one team looked like scoring at this point and the Hornets duly took the lead in the 67th minute. Flemming found some space on the left and lifted in a perfect cross for Collins to head home at the far post.

The striker, who had been thinking about having a break from the game, left the field because of cramp immediately after celebrating his goal.

Horsham continued to press for the second and Gavin Geddes lifted Charman's rifled cross over the keeper and past the post in the 82nd minute before making up ten yards to dispossess a defender two minutes later and playing an incisive ball to Flemming whose low shot was deflected for a corner.

After two recent setbacks, Horsham manager John Maggs was pleased with his team's reponse. He said: "We needed to bounce back and the players delivered. I thought we were solid throughout against a very good side and we did enough to win it.

"There were no superstars out there, all 11 ticked over and we didn't give anything away. That's a big three points for us."