Match Report
Sussex County League: Premier Division
| Ringmer 2 C Johnson 7, 29 | Horsham YMCA 2 Davies 39 Churchill 90 |
Date: 10th Apr 2004 Location:Ringmer
Source: West Sussex County Times
PHIL Churchill scored in injury-time to complete a dramatic comeback against Ringmer.
Chris Johnson's 29-minute brace looked good enough to take the spoils, especially when Dean Carden was sent off in the 34th minute for two bookable offences, but Steve Davies gave the hosts a glimmer of hope when he turned to make the space to shoot home. Before the break.
It was hard to tell who had the numerical advantage after the break as YM swamped their opponents and fully deserved Phil Churchill's 93rd minute equaliser.
"We were outstanding," insisted YM manager John Suter. "I was very pleased. I came away from the game ever so satisfied with our performance. After going down to ten men it was absolutely superb. There was not a bloke out there who gave less than 100 percent. I enjoyed that.”
Wayne Potter, who cracked a rib during the game, said the draw felt like a win such was the mountain YM had to overcome, and Suter agreed.
"To get that goal just before the end, it was a terrific finish. People came in with their self-respect and self-esteem all in place and I was particularly pleased with that," he added.
Ringmer looked set for an easy afternoon when Stuart Garrod fed Johnson and he shot past the unsighted James Plumley with the aid of a deflection.
The visitors nearly equalised when Ringmer keeper Jamie Anderson dropped james Bird’s corner but Tim Brown’s follow-up header was cleared off the line.
Moments later, Barrie Westgate missed another good chance when his header from Gil Taylor’s flick-on was aimed straight at Anderson.
YM kept coming forward and created another opportunity when Taylor and Churchill linked up well to set up a chance for Brown, but he shot over.
But for all YM's attempts on goal, it was Ringmer who scored next when Johnson finished from close range after Paul Charman had missed a tackle.
Two goals down after 29 minutes was not an ideal situation but YM found themselves in further trouble when Carden, who had only been on the pitch 11 minutes following Matt Duffield's substitution for a hamstring injury, was sent off for two yellow cards.
However, with the cards stacked in Ringmer's favour, YM pulled a goal back. Plumley's long kick was flicked on by a Ringmer defender to Davies, and the striker twisted and turned to make space to shoot home.
It was all YM after the break as the visitors turned on a tremendous showing that restricted Ringmer to just one shot which Domonic Shepherd blazed horribly wide.
For the visitors, Davies shot just over the bar when well placed, while Westgate headed straight at Anderson from Sleat’s free-kick.
With the minutes ticking away YM thought they bad won a penalty when Davies was fouled just inside the box although the referee adjudged the offence to have occurred outside the area.
But justice was done deep into time added on. Churchill was brought down just outside the box but YM got the benefit of some good fortune when the referee pointed at the spot. Churchill dusted himself off and sealed a fine comeback.
Team: Plumley; Duffield (Garden 23), Westgate, Charman, Sleat; Bird, Potter, Brown, Taylor (Still 70), Davies, Churchill.