Match Report
County League: Division One
| Sidlesham 1 Lester 10 |
Horsham YMCA 1 Charman 37 |
Date:20th December 2003 Location:Sidlesham
Source: West Sussex County Times
YM HAD cause for some seasonal cheer when they ended their run of nine defeats with a draw at Sidlesham
The Gorings Mead side have had little to smile about of late but the point, courtesy of a Paul Charman equaliser, is a step in the right direction, even if manager John Suter thought they could have taken all three points.
'I was disappointed. I thought we were the better side and had more scoring opportunities. We deserved more out of the game but I'm pleased we did not lose" he said.
The point, combined with an improved showing at East Preston, prompted Surer to insist that his side are on the up. However, he knows that they must win games if they want to retrieve their flagging season.
"People know that we are playing better, I felt we turned a corner at East Preston, but we want to win games.," he added.
On a windswept afternoon, YM started brightly on Sidlesham undulating pitch that made fluid football difficult and the game became a lottery.
Sidleshams Byron Kearns was the busier of the two keepers during the early exchanges and had to palm away Nathan Sleat's free-kick to stop YM going ahead.
Steve Davies, who caught the eye as he willingly led the line, spurned another chance minutes later but it was Sidlesham who took the lead in the tenth minute with their first attack.
Richard Davies, who recently rejoined the club after a spell with Horsham, laid back Scott Tipper's high ball and Tim Lester provided the finishing touch.
The visitors responded with a good move involving Ryan Andrews, Matt Duffield and Davies but the striker's shot was saved by Kearns to preserve the hosts' lead.
John Rigden, who Suter employed as a sweeper, could not get on the end of a cross as YM continued to probe the Sidlesham defence and Duffield might have done better when he was played through.
But Surer's men got their reward in the 37th minute when Charman showed good feet to clinically sweep home Sleat's corner.
YM continued to press forward after the break and should have taken the lead but both Duffield and Ian Fenn, who is back from university, squandered the chances.
Phil Churchill then had a shot cleared ott the line by Lester and Sleat blazed the rebound over the bar despite taking time to steady himself to shoot.
At the other end, Lester threatened to ruin YM's afternoon but he lashed his shot over the bar after Tipper and Davies had linked well to create an opening.
James Plumley tipped a Davies free-kick over the bar as the minutes ticked by but it was YM who came closest to snatching something at the death.
Sleat sent Paul Young clear on goal but after rounding the keeper he pushed his shot wide where Davies desperately tried to turn the ball in but could only deflect it onto the post.
YM play local rivals Three Bridges at Gorings Mead at 11am on Boxing Day.
Team: Plumley; Carden, Charman (Durrant 55), Rigden, Fenn, Sleat; Duffield, Andrews, Potter; Davies, Churchill (Young 75).