Match Report
Sussex County League: Premier Division
 Horsham YMCA 2O'Hara 34 Grant 84 |
Sidley United 1 Watson 45 |
Date:22nd July 2004 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: West Sussex County Times
YM GOT their season off to a superb start with a 2-1 win over Sidley three days before, although no-one was sure who banged in the winning goal.
After Joel O'Hara's 34th minute opener had been cancelled out by Jimmy Watson's equaliser, the hosts pushed for a second and were rewarded with just six minutes to go.
Substitute James Bird's surging run from the halfway line led to James Grant and Nick Flint both connecting on the ball to send it into the back of the net.
Both players claimed the vital touch but YM manager John Suter thought it was debutant Grant who should get credited with the strike.
"The referee and the linesman both gave James the goal," explained Suter. "They both struck the ball at the same time and no-one seems to know who scored."
In 50 years of senior football, there are not many things Suter has not seen on the pitch. Yet the veteran manager claims this was a first even for him.
"It's a new one on me. There was confusion then and there still is now," he added.
Grant's late goal settled a tight contest which could have gone either way.
Sidley's Michael O'Callaghan threatened during the opening exchanges with a free-kick and then a shot which went straight at goalkeeper James Plumley.
Flint then missed a great chance at the other end, lobbing the ball wide of goal after O'Hara had played him through.
O'Hara, who travelled back from Devon to play, was then involved in an excellent move with Flint, Steve Davis and Ryan Andrews although YM did not manage a shot to match their passing.
Davis headed over Nick Levett's cross as YM came forward but it was Sidley who nearly opened the scoring. Steve Morris went through and it was only Plumley's finger-tip save denied him a goal.
Sidley's Dave Ward then scuffed a shot wide, a miss that proved costly when YM opened the scoring in the 34th minute.
Flint, returning to the club after a season with Ifield Edwards, fed O'Hara who shot over Rob Wiley in the visitors' goal.
But Sidley responded gamely and were level on the stroke of half-time. Watson received a return pass from O'Callaghan and shot past Plumley at the near post to restore parity.
YM improved after half-time, with Levett hitting the side-netting and Grant lobbing over the bar.
The hosts should have taken the lead when Davis was bundled over in the box. Flint stepped up to take the spot-kick but was denied by Wiley who guessed correctly, palming the ball wide to keep the scores level.
However, Flint and Grant combined to see that YM's season started on the right note.
"Their manager thought a draw would have been a fair result and I have sympathy with that," said Suter. "But I think we deserved it for our second half performance."
Team: (4-4-2): Carden, Carter, Sleat, Levett; Grant, Potter, Andrews (Bird 70), O'Hara (Comper 80); Flint, Davis (Bidwell 80).