Match Report
Sussex Senior Cup - 2nd Round
| Crawley Town 7 MacDonald 4, 7, 33, 44 Plummer 40 Harkin 60 Forde81 |
Horsham YMCA 1 O'Hara 70 |
Date:11th November 2003 Location:Gorings Mead
Source West Sussex County Times
"WE WERE cannon fodder," admitted YM manager John Suter as his side were gunned down in the mist and drizzle at Broadfield Stadium.
Crawley striker Charlie MacDonald scored four goals as the visitors performed as miserably as the weather. The rampaging Reds were two up within five minutes, led 5-0 at the break and it looked like the electronic scoreboard might blow a fuse.
YM were up against a side that included a former international and pro players and the gap in class showed. But they restored some pride in the second half and scored with their only shot on target when home keeper Jamie Anderson made a hash of Joel O'Hara's low shot.
"We were absolute rubbish in the first half and didn't do ourselves justice," said YM manager John Suter. "I know they're a good side hut there were little windows where we should've done better."
Francis Vines paid the visitors the compliment of fielding a strong side and the Dr Martens Premier side certainly took the game seriously. "I'm not too disappointed, they have quality ptayers and a quality attitude. We had to put the first half behind us and play for a little bit of pride," said Suter.
Suter started the match with a 4-4-2 formation and admitted: "With the benefit of hindsight, I probably should've played five at the back." But after they were three down within 33 minutes any tactical considerations were irrelevant.
Crawley's unbeaten 17-game run ended on Saturday when they were put out of the FA Cup at Telford with the last kick of the game.
"They were wounded by the result and we were the ideal cannon fodder," said Suter.
YM seemed overawed by Crawley's impressive Broadfield Stadium and went behind after just four minutes. Nigel Brake tore down the left, crossed low to MacDonald and the former Charlton player shot into the roof of the net. Three minutes later Justin Gregory flew down the other flank, crossed and MacDonald slid home number two.
Crawley's back-three were so secure, wing-backs Brake and Gregory spent the whole evening bombing down the flanks and the pace and precision of their attacks left the visitors bemused. But luckily their shooting did not match their approach work.
YM struggled to regain possession against their fitter, stronger opponents and when they did they were rushed into giving the ball away.
In the 33rd minute MacDonald completed his hat-trick when he collected another Brake cross and steered the ball into the far corner.
Trialist Dwayne Plummer made it four when he outbattled Nathan Sleat on the edge of the area, strode through and smashed the ball home.
Dean Carden, who was having a torrid time against Brake, finally hacked the flier once too often and was booked.
A minute before the break MacDonald turned beautifully in the box and stroked his fourth into the corner and the striker almost made it five in stoppage time but Plumley turned away his shot.
The visitors must have been glad of the half-time whistle. Suter sensibly took off Carden and brought on the experienced Peter Durrant as a third centre-back to stiffen up the defence.
Plumley made another excellent save after the break when he parried Fabian Forde's fierce strike and the young keeper was blameless for all the goals.
YM settled down and for a quarter of an hour held the home side. But when Crawley brought former Wycombe player and Northern Ireland under-21 international Mo Harkin off the bench, the former pro soon showed his class with a sparkling run, twisting and turning past three defenders before shooting home on the hour.
However, YM were enjoying their best spell of the game, managed to string together some passes and won their first corner in the 67th minute.
Their best passing move of the night broke down in the area but when the ball came back out to O'Hara, the lanky midfielder tried his luck from 30 yards with a low skimmer that Anderson let slip through his hands into the goal.
O'Hara turned and bowed to the main stand but was not so happy a few minutes later when Jay Richardson kicked him and was booked. "Welcome to big boys' football," said a home fan.
But Crawley were not finished and Brake, who was much quieter in the second period, tore down the outside and whipped in another dangerous cross. Lutwyche did well to clear the danger but the ball ran out to Fabian Forde who slammed it home.
YM kept trying and Paul Young turned sharply past Karl Ready but although he had the satisfaction of beating the former QPR player and Welsh international he ballooned his shot well wide.
The defeat to the Dr Martens Premier side has not left a bad taste in Suter's mouth. "Their salmon vol-au-vents brightened my night," he joked.
Team:Plumley; Garden (Durrant 45), Sleat, Lutwyobe, Qakes; Churchill, Duffield, Brown, O'Hara; Davies (Taylor 61), Young.