Match Report
County League - Division One

Hassocks 2 Horsham YMCA 2
Laing 25(pen)
Fernley 70		Durrant 8
Potter 80

Date: 30th November 2002    

West Sussex County Times



A Dubious corner helped YM take a point from a tricky journey to in-form Hassocks.

With the home side leading 2-I with ten minutes go, YM were fortunately awarded a corner after Mark Francis' shot had flown over the bar seeming-without a deflection off a Hassocks player.

Peter Durrant flicked on Nick Flint's corner at the far post and Wayne Potter completed the three card trick with a thumping header at the back stick level the match at 2-2.

A relieved YM manager John Suter thought it justice done, despite the controversy surround-the corner. "It was not a corner, and Hassocks could feel a bit aggrieved, but over the 90 minutes it s a fair result.

'I felt we had more of the attacking play in the second half but we were fortunate enough to get an equaliser It was a good game, end to end, played in good spirit and enjoyable to watch," he said.

despite Burgess Hill winning 4-0 against Sidlesham to extend their lead over YM to eight points. Suter was pretty pleased with the afternoon's work but what gave the Gorings Mead boss cause for concern was Potter managing to double his tally for the season. "I've been saying to him that there is no point in shooting because he's already scored one this year," joked Suter.

The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute when Durrant, at the near post, glanced a header from Flint's wicked corner past the Hassocks keeper. The goal owed much to the delivery of the set piece which was terribly difficult to defend against.

James Laing, Hassocks' tall forward, gave YM plenty of problems as he won a number of aerial battles with the visitors' defence.

After putting one header over the bar, Durrant held Laing's shirt as he tried to leap for another ball played into the box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Laing got up to put the penalty away in the 25th minute. "I was annoyed about that," admitted Suter.

Paul Young and Flint had chances for YM while at the other end the lively Luke Flomo and Joe Fernley were keeping the YM defence busy.

YM looked to be getting the better of Hassocks as the second half wore on and Young could have given them the lead but his effort was cleared off the line.

Despite the domination, it was Hassocks who went in front after 70 minutes. Laing flicked on Fiomo's cross at the near post and Femley steered it home from close range.

"It was a disappointing goal to give away because we had a lot of pressure on their box, most of the play had been down their end," said Suter.

But the YM manager only had to wait ten minutes for a response when Potter popped up to head an equaliser.

Tomorrow, YM face Hailsham and three days later entertain Burgess Hill, the division leaders, in a mouth-watering clash but Suter knows there is still a long way to go fore the trophies are handed out, "We are eight points behind but it's still early. Either side could win it and not have a bearing on the league," he said.

Team: Dumbrill; Durrant, McCreadie, Sleat; Garden, Duffield, Potter, M Francis, Fitzgerald; Young, Flint (Death, 80).