Match Report
Sussex County League: Premier Division
 Horsham YMCA 6 Russell 12 O'Hara 29 Grant 47 Davies 59, 61, 63 |
 Redhill 2 Fox 45 Baker 89 |
Date:28th August 2004 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: West Sussex County Times
YM Sit proudly on top of the County League after Steve Davies scored a five-minute hat-trick in the 6-2 demolition of Rye & Iden.
Davies pounced in the 59th, 61st and 63rd minutes to complete YM's scoring after AH Russell, Joel O'Hara and James Grant had scored in the first half.
"It's nice to be top of the league," admitted YM boss John Suter.
"We scrapped for the first four games but we finally played some reasonable football against Rye.
It's nice to have the points on the board."
Former AFC Wimbledon and Forest striker Russell opened the scoring in the 12th minute, sweeping home his first goal for YM at the back post after Davies and Grant had combined effectively.
It was 2-0 in the 29th minute.
Matt Duffield, playing his first game of the season, released Davies who crossed to O'Hara at the back post to head in number two.
James Plumley made a great save from Paul Ruddy as Rye tried to respond and the visitors managed to claw a goal back moments before the break.
After O'Hara had lost possession, Plumley saved well from Chris Duffy but the Rye player collected the loose ball and rather than shoot again, intelligently played in James Fox who halved the deficit.
"We came in a bit low and they were on a high," explained Suter.
But YM's jeers turned to cheers two minutes after the teams resumed hostilities when Duffield and Russell linked to send Grant clear and the midfielder slotted home his third goal in five matches.
The game then turned into the Davies show.
The muscular stiriker bagged his first just before the hour, coolly placing the ball the beleaguered Rye keeper.
He scored his second and YM’s fifth two minutes later when I netted after good build-up play between Duffield and Gary Bidwell.
Davies completed his quick fire treble by controlling Russell's pass before planting it past the Rye stopper.
Rye pushed forward for a consolation goal and they were rewarded in the 84th minute, although it owed to some calamitous defending from the hosts.
The YM defence let the ball run through to Plumley but Peter Baker intercepted and rolled the ball past the exposed keeper.
"It was a good result and we played well.
There were some good performances, the two boys up front played well, as did James Bird and James Grant in the middle of the park," said Suter.
YM travel to Gravesend on Sunday to play Dartford in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.
Team: (4-4-2): Plumley; Duffield, Carter, Sleat, Levett; Bidwejl, Bird, Grant, O'Hara (Francis 70); Russell, Davies (Walshe 85).