JOHN MAGGS’ gamble to play Gary Charman even though he was not fully fit paid off as Horsham ended any lingering relegation worries with a 1-0 win at Harlow.

Midfielder Charman, who is struggling with a knee injury, headed home Russell Eldridge’s free-kick on 31 minutes against a Harlow side who finished the game with nine men.

Jordan Fowler was sent off after scrapping with Darren Budd just before the break and Jamie Richards went in the second half after another tangle with Budd.

Boss Maggs said: “It was a gamble to play Gary and Mark Knee, who had a dead leg, but they made the difference.

“It wasn’t a great game but we needed that win just to make sure we don’t get dragged into it.”

Charman and Knee face fitness checks ahead of today’s home game against Tooting & Mitcham and Williams Pearoux may return but defender Andy Howard is unavailable.

Hastings United remain deep in relegation trouble after they lost 2-0 to a Sutton side reduced to ten men after 18 minutes.

Sam Adams, usually so deadly from the spot, hit the bar after winning a penalty in the first five minutes while Sutton’s Steve West was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge.

Laurent Hamici put promotion chasers Sutton head with a header on 25 minutes and their skipper Karim El-Salahi made it 2-0 on 68 minutes.

Hastings go to third-placed Tonbridge Angels today just a place above the bottom four relegation positions.