Match Report
County League - Division One
| Horsham YMCA 0 | Hassocks 2 P.Harding 39, 41 |
Date:22nd November 2003 Location:Gorings Mead
Source West Sussex County Times
PAT Harding haunted YM for the second time in four weeks as he shot Hassocks to a 2-0 win.
The son of former Chelsea benefactor Matthew Harding struck twice in quick succession, just as he did when the two teams met at the end of last month, to send YM to their fourth straight defeat.
But YM manager John Suter felt his side were better value than the scoreline might suggest. "There was nothing to choose between the two teams," he admitted.
"We had more possession and had more of the ball in their half, but we did not convert those into clear cut chances and they scored two in two minutes."
The margin of defeat was the same as the loss to Eastbourne Town a week before, but Suter thought the scoreline was the only similarity between the two per formances. "It was a much better performance. The effon was good, there was a better team spirit, more commitment. It was encouraging," said Suter.
On a wet afternoon, it was the visitors who had the first chance in the tenth minute when Anthony Hibbert shot on the turn but YM keeper James Plumley was equal to the effort.
YM responded well and were unlucky not to have taken the lead in the 17th minute. Joel O'Hara went down the line and crossed to Steve Davies whose header took a deflection and bounced behind off the post.
From the resulting corner which was only half-cleared, Ryan Andrews skimmed the top of the bar with a drive from 30 yards.
Hosts captain Matt Duffield and Gil Taylor both had chances three minutes later and YM finally had the ball in the back of the net just after the half hour. From another O'Hara cross, Davies headed across goal to Phil Churchill who dived to head the ball past Joel Harding, hut unfortunately for the hosts the linesman's flag was up.
After weathering a period of pressure, Hassocks went down the other end and took the lead in the 39th minute when Harding bought himself some space and lashed home from 25 yards. It was a perb strike but Plumley appeared leave the ball, perhaps thinking was going over the bar.
It was 2-0 in the 41st minute as lumley and Andy Lutwyche got muddle over Joel Harding's long clearance leaving brother Pat with the simple task of tapping the ball over the line.
"The whole side had worked so hard and to go behind was so disheartening," said Suter.
Duffield shot the first meaningful chance of the second half straight at the keeper and Harding had to be on top of his game to deny Nathan Sleat's terrific effort.
YM kept pushing forward with Duffield shooting at Harding for the second time in quick succession and Dean Carden firing a shot past the far post as Davies tried desperately to slide in to deflect the ball into the net.
Hassocks should nave extended their lead just after the hour when James Laing sent Joe Fernley through on goal but the substitute put his shot wide.
At the other end, Lutwyclie nearly atoned for his part in Hassocks' second goal but Harding tipped his header over the bar.
Fernley should have done better when he missed another one-on one and the game ended with YM unable to capitalise on a flurry of chances.
Taylor and substitute Josh Maynard wasted a couple of headers each, Churchill had a shot saved by Harding and O'Hara completed the series of misses by heading a corner wide. 'We had a lot of pressure but our final ball often lacked quality said Suter.
Team:Plumley Garden, LutWyOhe, Durrant, Sleat; Duffield, AndreWS, OHara; Churchill (BrabOn 75), Davies, Taylor (Maynard 70).