Match Report
Sussex County League: Premier Division
| Three Bridges 3 Massaro 15, 44, 73(pen) | Horsham YMCA 0 |
Date: 12th Apr 2004 Location:Jubilee Field
Source: Russ Staves, West Sussex County Times
A DEPLETED YM handed Three Bridges striker Pat Massaro three goals as if they were dishing out Easter Eggs to a greedy child.
Massaro, one of the division's meanest strikers, is too good to be given gilt-edged opportunities but the visitors still set him up with a hat-trick of chances which he duly tucked away like a bar of chocolate.
Dean Carden, who was sent off against Ringmer two days before, capped a miserable Easter period when he dilly-dallied on the ball, allowing Massaro to trot through and lob the exposed James Plumley.
Number two was slightly harder, a curling shot which looked like it took a deflection, although YM stand-in captain Barrie Westgate had given Massaro possession with a poor clearance.
The raven-haired forward completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot after the much maligned Carden had fouled him in the box.
To make matters worse, James Bird was sent off with 15 minutes to go for aiming a head-butt at Massaro. Although the midfielder's action was stupid, his frustration was understandable as the three-goal striker was the difference between the two sides.
"We gave it to them," admitted YM manager John Suter. "All three goals were a result of mistakes we made. Getting a man sent off compounded the problem really."
The contrast between Massaro and YM's forwards was vast although there was little for Steve Davies and makeshift forward Ryan Andrews to feed off. "We really set Massaro up, even his third goal, while we did not threaten their goal enough," said Suter.
Strikers win games and Massaro's virtuoso display was evidence of that, but Suter could at least take some comfort from a performance that did not truly reflect the 3-0 scoreline.
With influential pair Matt Duffield and Wayne Potter ruled out with injuries from Saturday's draw with Ringmer, and Paul Young, Tim Brown and Joel O'Hara also unavailable, Suter spent most of Easter Sunday on the phone trying to assemble a squad for the local derby. But the players who pulled on the shirt matched Three Bridges until they pressed the self-destruct button.
"Having five people out, important people, and still playing better than Three Bridges in some ways is quite satisfying. Coming in at 2-0 down when we were the better side is difficult to take, but we made lots of mistakes," he added.
On a mild and sunny morning, a decent sized crowd settled down to watch the final part of the YM-Bridges trilogy this season - Bridges beat YM in the RUR Cup in November while the Horsham side took the honours in league action on Boxing Day.
Both teams cancelled each other out in an even opening until YM had the first shot on goal in the sixth minute, but Andrews' low effort was comfortably smothered by Alan Mansfield after Davies had done well to keep possession.
It was a YM player who had the next attempt on goal, but at the wrong end as debutant Steve Sallis nearly headed into his own net. The midfielder, who signed for Horsham at the start of the season, deflected Simon Funnell's cross but Plumley made a supreme reflex save to claw away the danger.
There was little Plumley could do to prevent his side going behind on 15 minutes. Carden appeared in little trouble as he shepherded the ball towards his own area but instead of lamping it into Three Bridges Road, he hesitated and was robbed by the predatory Massaro who lobbed the stranded keeper. It was a cruel blow for the visitors, and one they did not deserve.
The game became untidy with a number of crunching challenges being greeted with groans from the crowd, particularly when Westgate, who seems to relish a battle, clobbered Funnell who was left in a heap holding his neck.
The hosts, who were skippered by former YM and Horsham midfielder Lee Butcher, went for the jugular as the half began to draw to a close. Funnell, who had recovered after Westgate's challenge, should have scored number two but pulled his shot wide after Massaro's beautifully volleyed pass had sent him clear.
Davies lashed the ball over minutes later when a little bit more composure was required and Massaro showed him how to do it a minute from the break.
Westgate's attempted clearance only went as far as Bridges' top scorer who aimed a shot into the far corner, perhaps helped by a deflection, which looped over Plumley and into the net.
In injury-time, Justin Simmons, sporting a David Dickinson style tan, missed when it looked easier to score. Former YM player Scott Langridge looped a cross into the six-yard box but Simmons timed his jump horribly wrong and sent his header over the bar.
After a frantic end to the half there was a lull in the action as the teams resumed after the break. Andrews had the first meaningful attempt on goal in the 67th minute when he took Sallis' through ball and shot across Mansfield, the keeper doing well to grab the ball with both hands.
It was game, set and match six minutes later. Massaro picked himself up after being brought down by Carden and slotted home from the spot, low to Plumley's left.
Suter ended Carden's misery by bringing him off for Damian Francis, who belied the fact that he has been out of first team action all season with some tidy touches.
Bird's dismissal meant it was damage limitation for YM and Bridges should have scored at least two more. Funnell beat the offside trap and went round Plumley before pulling the ball back for Russell Mortimer who swung and missed with the net gaping.
The same player missed an even better chance a minute later when he collected Massaro's square ball and tamely prodded it goalwards, allowing Sleat to hack it off the line.
Team: Plumley; Carden (D Francis 76), Westgate, Charman, Sleat; Churchill, Sallis, Bird, Still; Andrews (Durrant 84), Davies.