Horsham manager John Maggs hailed goalkeeper Ian Chatfield as the best in Sussex after an inspirational performance.

Chatfield produced three superb saves to keep his side in the game and set up the Hornets' sixth successive victory.

With the score goalless, Chatfield produced a double save in the 12th minute to deny Leeyon Phelan and Richard Butler.

Then, at 1-1, Horsham's 32-year-old No.1 showed great reactions to dive low to his right to thwart Butler at point-blank range on 63 minutes.

It was the turning point for Maggs' young side and within eight minutes the home team scored twice to seal the win.

Three points take Horsham up to fourth in Ryman division two and Maggs knew who to thank.

He said: "Ian is without doubt the best goalkeeper in Sussex.

"The save in the second half kept us in the game and, like last weekend when we were under the cosh, he came good.

"He is worth 15 goals a season. Ian is definitely the best and you can take it from me. I've been around and I know a little about goalkeeping."

Maggs, who played more than 700 games in goal for Crawley, added: "His positional sense is outstanding. Ian is very good at one-on-ones and his timing to come and smother and to make himself big are huge bonuses for us.

"If he has a slight down side, it's on crosses but he more than makes up for that with his agility and distribution."

Horsham, having scored 29 goals in their previous five games, pounded the visitors' goal in the opening exchanges.

John Kirby, skipper Stuart Hardy and Gary Charman all went close before Town took the lead in the 19th minute.

Tony Nolan crossed from the right and Chatfield was helpless as the ball squirmed through a group of players to leave Butler with a simple tap in at the back post.

The Hornets goalkeeper was off his line smartly to deny the visitors an opportunity to double their lead minutes later as Vince O'Sullivan burst through.

Maggs' troops, missing influential defender Tommy Warrilow, rallied and Charman and Jamie Taylor could have equalised before Ross Davidson made it 1-1 six minutes after half-time with a calamitous own goal.

There was no danger as Steve Payne hit a long ball from just inside his own half to the edge of the visitors' area. But a firm backwards header by Davidson, unaware that goalkeeper Simon Kent was off his goalline, sailed into an unguarded net.

Chatfield then made his double save to keep the scores level before teenage striker Taylor grabbed his 11th goal in six games in the 68th minute with a calm right-foot finish low into the bottom corner after the Ashford defence paused for a whistle which never came.

Three minutes later Taylor's strapping strike partner Kirby made it 3-1 as he scored from close range following Kent's parry from a 20-yard Lee Carney volley.

Chatfield said: "There were a couple of times when the lads let things go, especially the one in the second half when I had to get down quick. I pushed it out for a corner, but other times they go straight to an opponent. I read it but there were a couple of times they were close to scoring. I'm enjoying my football. We did everything right apart from shooting.

"The quality when we got in their six-yard box was lacking. We were shooting from too far away, we made it easy for them."

Horsham deservedly won and Maggs said the club was making every effort to tie talented young players like Carney, Taylor, Charman and Hardy to the club.

He said: "The fans are excited and they have reason to be. The lads can play at a higher level, they have got some outstanding talent and if they progress in the future as they have in the short term then it looks good for them and for the club."