Match Report
Sussex Senior Cup - Third Round Replay
| Horsham YMCA 1 | Worthing 3 |
| | |
Date:
5th February 2003
by Russell Staves, West Sussex County Times
Gorings Mead
TWO CLASSY strikes and a deflected shot finally broke down YM's stubborn resistance as Worthing's superior football skills won through on Wednesday night.
Last week, YM formed a human shield in front of their goal and prevented Worthing from scoring in two hours of football after a magnificent defensive display. However, it took Mark Knee only 23 minutes to find the net in the latest episode when he swivelled and slotted home.
YM were given a glimmer of hope when Ryan Andrews scored the goal of the night with a thirty-yard lob to level the match at I - I after 60 minutes but a deflected effort from Wesley Lopez, arguably the game's best player, re-established the lead. Knee's second goal wrapped the tie up for Worthing.
"The better side won," was John Suter's uncomplicated verdict. "Collectively they were better. They passed it better, kept the hall when they had it and closed us down and got men behind the ball when they did not have it."
When the teams first met, the Woodsidc Road pitch resembled a pig farm with thick mud covering 70 per cent of the playing surface. The Gorings Mead ground looked immaculate by comparison, and most of the Worthing players were relishing the prospect of a game on a flat surface as they chatted in the bar after the first game.
"They are a footballing side, not a heavyweight side and it suits them to play on a good surface," said Suter.
The key period in the game came after Andrews' spectacular equaliser. YM looked to capitalise on their advantage but Worthing kept possession and placated the excited hosts like a parent calming an over-excited child. By stroking the ball around and denying YM any possession, they took any sting out of a potential revival and got the added bonus of a goal from Lopez, courtesy of a deflection off the unfortunate Matt Duffield.
"It was a glorious goal to equalise and you think there's going to be something in it for us. But it was a killer second goal, that's unlucky," rued Sutcr.
YM welcomed back centre-half Scott Langridge. who had just returned from Mexico. and the tanned defender must have taken a while to acelimatise to the frozen pitch and sub-zero temperatures after a spell in the blazing sun.
The visitors kicked-off and the opening exchanges were almost identical to last week's installment at Worthing with YM harassing their slick looking opponents but the better passing coming from the red shirts.
Tom Graves, Worthing's peroxide blonde centre-back, had the game's first chance when he headed straight at Jason Dumbrill from captain Gary Young's free-kick after Stewart McCreadie had given away a needless foul.
The woolly hat brigade had come out in full force
but the cold weather did not seem to put YM off their stride as they chased down every lost cause and gave each other options when they had the ball. From the hard working pair of Gil Taylor and Michael Death up front to the calming influence of sweeper McCreadie. everyone did their bit.
Dumbrill had to be at his best to keep out Andy Walker in the 22nd minute when the Worthing striker broke clear, pushing the shot wide after standing up well.
The 20 Worthing fans huddled behind Dumbrill's goal with their large red and white flag must have been sick of the sight of the YM keeper, who was again in good form.
But a minute later, they were celebrating. Knee, who was lively all evening, controlled Lopez's low cross, turned Nathan Sleat on the edge of the six-yard box and fired across Dumbrill to break the deadlock after 143 minutes of football.
The shivering Rebels fans were screaming for a penalty when the dreadlocked Ben Carrington went down in the box under David Oakes' challenge but referee Chris Salt was not interested, despite the protests of the Worthing man.
YM knocked the ball around nicely enough but lacked any real penetration and failed to get forward in sufficient numbers to support the front two who were getting little change Out of the visitors' defence.
The hosts won their first corner in the 32nd minute and a minute later had their first effort of the game when Death leathered a shot from 30-yards that flew over the bar.
Carrington should have doubled the lead in the 42nd minute. but he pulled his shot wide after Sleat bad carelessly given the ball away on the edge of the area.
YM were better in the second half but only Death's speculative drive from the edge of the box gave Matthew May anything to worry about in the Worthing goal.
With the lack of clear-cut chances being created, Andrews found something special to beat the Worthing keeper. From 30-yards out, the midftelder caught May off his line with a sumptuous left foot strike that floated into the back of the net.
The goal should have spurred YM forward but instead forced Worthing to consolidate and they did not allow the hosts a kick as they expertly retained possession.
Suter brought on Micky Hennessy to run at the visitors' defence but the substitute had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when Worthing retook the lead. Lopez's shot, from the edge of the box, took a deflection off Duffield and beat Dumbrill after the YM skipper had inadvertently kept Steve Sargent's wayward shot in play.
The game was settled in style in the 75th minute when Knee volleyed past Dumbrill after Lopez's exquisite first time cross picked him out beautifully.
Lopez flashed a shot across goal as Worthing manager Barry Lloyd contenentedly puffed away on a cigarette but a fourth goal would have been harsh onYM.
Substitute Joel OHara could have set up a grandstand finish but be scooped a shot over the bar after Taylor had played the ball through.
Tomorrow. YM welcome Selsey to Gorings Mead and Suter will be hoping for revenge after an unpleasant 3-0 defeat in the RUR Cup earlier in the season.
Team: Dumbrill; Langridge, McCreadie, Sleat; Duffield, Andrews, Potter, Garden (Hennessy 60), Qakes (OHara 73); Death (M Francis 73), Taylor.