Match Report
County League - Division One

Sidley United 1 Horsham YMCA 2
Funnell 10Young 45
Taylor 55

Date: 26th October 2002    

by West Sussex County Times

YM finally laid to rest the ghost of their record-breaking win a fortnight ago that has been plaguing them ever since.

Since handing Out the greatest beating in Sussex County football history when they crushed Littlehampton 22-1, YM were brought crashing down to earth with 4-1 and 4-0 losses to Ringer and Pagham within the space of four days.

But John Suter's men got back on the winning trail with a 2-1 win over Sidley and the YM manager hopes normal service will be resumed after an extraordinary couple of weeks.

"It's been dreadful," he explained. "I'm pleased every time we get further away from it. It's been like a rope around our neck and I think it's put a psychological pressure on people to follow that."

Opposition teams have the extra incentive of trying to topple the record breakers and Suter has not been able to escape the tag. "The fact is everyone has talked about it," he added.

It looked like YM might slump to a third successive defeat after Mark Funnell gave Sidley the lead in the tenth minute when he headed home a right wing cross.

It was a goal that was the reward for Sidley's early domination but YM managed to find their feet and began to get themselves back into the game.

Peter Durrant, who Suter thought was "outstanding" at centre-half, headed over a Mark Francis corner and Paul Young almost lobbed Paul Gardiner but the keeper did well to track back and catch the ball.

Young did beat Gardiner on the stroke of halftime to send the teams in level. After the Sidley keeper had punched Francis' corner to Young on the edge of the box, the striker did excellently to fire into the corner.

The break did YM no favours and they again struggled to get into their stride. But any nerves were settled in the 55th minute when Gil Taylor took Francis' pass, rolled his man and then firmly placed the ball into the corner of the net from 18 yards as the defence opened up in front of him to make it 2-1.

Shac Spraefico nearly spoiled the YM party but Dumbrill made sure there were no gatecrashers as he produced an brilliant double save.

"I'm pleased to get a result after two defeats," said Suter. "It was an important win."

Tomorrow, Suter will take his team to Three Bridges tomorrow for an important local derby. After six points in the last two games, YM will hope to carry on their good form that sees them in second place behind leaders Burgess Hill.



Team: Dumbrill; Kerr, Durrant, McCreadie, Francis; Duffield, Potter, 0' Shaughnessy, Hennessy (Death, 73); Taylor, Young.