Match Report
County League:Division One
| Horsham YMCA 4 Brabon 64 Young 65 Davies 71 Sleat 80 |
Sidlesham 2 Tipper 14 Hdoye 90 (pen) |
Date:30th September 2003 Location:Gorings Mead
Source Richard Bryne, West Sussex County Times
A 'RONALDINHO' wonder goal capped a brilliant second half comeback by YM who finally broke their five-match drawing sequence.
Nathan Sleat's 35-yard free-kick, from way out on the left, sailed over the despairing hand of Matthew May into the top far corner, and recalled the - Did he? Didn't he mean it? debate when the Brazilian beat David Seaman from distance in the World Cup.
The left back's mesmerised expression as his team mates rushed to congratulate him suggested he was as surprised as everyone else at the goal and one fan shouted "tell him he's scored" from the stand. After the match the lanky defender explained with a big grin on his face: "I saw the keeper off his line."
Sleat's fourth goal capped an excellent second half display by the hosts who showed glimpses of the sort of football they played for much of last season.
After going behind to Scott Tipper's early strike, YM struggled in the first half against a typically committed Sidlesham side and barely created a chance. But the game changed after the break when substitute Greg Brabon equalised, finishing off a sweeping move with virtually his first touch, and within a minute YM were ahead when the impressive Paul Young found the back of the net with an exquisite strike with the outside of his left foot.
New boy Steve Davies scored a third on his home debut and Sleat's strike put the game beyond the visitors although Abdomlie Ndoye scored a late consolation from the penalty spot.
"I was pleased to get a result," said YM manager John Suter whose side moved up to fourth. "We desperately needed it after five draws. We've had some very poor Tuesday night results and just getting one point has not disguised what poor performances they have been.
"I told them they had to make their minds up about what they wanted from the game. Did they want to get involved in the physical side or did they want to play football. In the second half we played some good football."
On another crisp autumn evening the conditions were perfect. Suter stuck with the 4-3-3 formation that had earned a point at leaders Chichester on Saturday but it was more to do with his dearth of midfield players than any tactical considerations.
In fact, the home manager could have picked a pretty impressive side from the players on the touchline, that included Gil Taylor, Phil Fitzgerald, Wayne Potter, Jason Dumbrill, Damian Francis, Ryan Andrews and Paul Charman.
The visitors, in their green and yellow 'Norwich' kit, snapped at the home players' heels, closed them down and invariably were first to any loose balls.
In the 14th minute they caught YM on the break and Tipper stepped inside and smashed the ball across Plumley into the top corner.
YM had plenty of possession but only seriously tested May once, when Andy Lutwyche met a corner with a powerful downward header that the keeper snaffled at the foot of his post.
Sidlesham, boosted by their early goal, looked sharper and Tim Brown typified the home side's frustration when he jumped in on Glen Bridgman to earn the first card of the night.
Young and Churchill saw little of the ball, the hosts were struggling to compete in the middle of the park, but neither keeper had much to do. Young's shot in injury time that ended up near the corner flag summed up the half.
After the break Suter reverted to 4-4-2, pushing Young into the right hand side of midfield and leaving Churchill to partner Davies. YM looked more positive and Matt Duffield spooned over a great chance to equalise. But they almost went behind in the 53rd minute when Ian Fenn's poor back pass left the home defence in disarray. Mark Lozniak looked certain to score but Plumley tipped his thunderbolt onto the crossbar.
The youngster had handled the little he had to do confidently but his fingertips were probably the difference between victory and defeat as YM would have struggled to come back from two down.
Just after the hour Suter withdrew Churchill, pushed Young up front and brought on youth team player Brabon on the right side of midfield.
Three minutes later his side were level. Young tore up the left and rolled the ball across to Duffield. The home skipper timed his pass perfectly to the overlapping Brabon, who stole in and fired and unstoppable first-time shot past May. A minute later Young pinged home from the edge of the area and suddenly YM were ahead.
In the 71st minute they effectively settled the match when Young sent Brown away down the inside left channel and the tall midfielder picked out the unmarked Davies with an unselfish pass. The former Littlehampton striker did the rest from close range.
The visitors' bench became more irate as they watched the game slip away and referee Paul Weedon ended up booking four Sidlesham players as their frustration began to tell.
Sleat's memorable strike with ten minutes left put the home side in total control. The crowd then enjoyed the introduction of Peter 'Dozy' Durrant with two minutes left. The veteran is the nearest they have to a cult figure at Gorings Mead, and drew comparisons with Zidane – for his receding hairline rather than his footballing ability.
"The vision of Durrant," cooed his team-mates on the sidelines as he set up a sweeping mood that ended with Young heading narrowly over.
The fun seemed to be back at YM and not even Ndoye's stoppage time penalty after Dean Carden brought down Matt Lafferty could wipe the smiles off the home supporters' faces. Joel O'Hara was Gladwish Land Sales man of the match
Team: Plumley; Carden, Lutwyche, Fenn, Sleat; Duffield, Brown (Durrant 88), O'Hara; Young, Davies (Price 80), Churchill (Brabon 61).