Match Report
County League:Division One
 Southwick 1 Donaghue 90 |
 Horsham YMCA 1 Churchill 62 |
Date: 16th October 2004 Location: Southwick
Source: Russell Staves, West Sussex County Times
LEAGUE leaders YM were kicked in the teeth by Southwick substi¬tute Jon Donaghue who equalised in the fourth minute of injury time.
Leading through Phil Churchill's 62nd minute goal, the visitors looked on course for their ninth win of the season until Donaghue caught them with a late sucker punch.
The Southwick forward, who looks more like a potential opponent for Audley Harrison than a footballer, found himself in the right place to tap home a late goal, which was a fair reward for the home side.
"It was very disappointing to drop two points," said YM manager John Suter.
"We were lucky to get a point in the end - that worries me. It makes our league position look a false one and should give the players a kick up the backside," he added.
The normally free-scoring YM were as threatening as a marshmal-low and Clinton Moore's absence through injury was all too evident.
"We had the cutting edge of a pregnant slug. We missed Clinton Moore. He has scored six goals in the last three games and always looks like scoring," said Suter.
With no stand, rusty scaffolding behind one goal and the Littlehampton-Brighton train line behind the other, Southwick's ground has all the warmth of
Belmarsh Prison. The football, albeit on a difficult surface more suited to rugby, was not much better.
Despite a sleepy moment after just 50 seconds, when Tom Levitt hit Aaron MacMillan's cross over the bar, YM adapted to the tricky surface better than their hosts and played some decent football.
Southwick midfielder Grant Ansbro needed a puff on his asthma inhaler within the first five minutes, but it was hardly an all-action affair.
It was 20 minutes before YM had their first real opportunity. Southwick keeper Ronan Callaghan cleared Ali Russell's long ball only as far as Churchill, loitering 35 yards from goal. With work still to do, the forward, who has been plagued by injury this year, snatched at the chance and sliced it wide.
The game dragged on like a painful hangover, although Dean Garden nearly provided a much-needed remedy in the 41st minute but he shot over the bar after Nick Flint and Churchill had combined well down the left flank.
The best chance of the half fell to Churchill a minute from half-time. Having done well to lose his marker, the striker headed Joel O'Hara's teasing cross wide of the far post.
There was little to warm the cockles as the players resumed hostilities after the interval, until Churchill opened the scoring.
Seizing on a mistake at the back, Churchill raced clear and clinically slotted past the exposed Callaghan.
The goalscorer was then subbed off by Suter before Southwick kicked-off, 'knackered' after playing little football this season.
Southwick, with nothing to lose, pushed for an equaliser and the hosts nearly restored parity four minutes later.
Substitute James Rhodes, Southwick's best player once he was introduced in the 39th minute, connected well with his shot but up the points in the 76th minute when Wayne Potter, one of few shining lights for the visitors, sent Steve Davies clear.
With just the keeper to beat, the substitute tried to be too clever and his attempt to chip the keeper went horribly wrong, the ball ending up ten yards wide.
Southwick pushed hard for a share of the spoils but they spurned a great chance to equalise when Rhodes headed straight at Ian Chatfield.
It seemed they had squandered any hopes of a point when MacMillan volleyed wide in the 93rd minute.
Southwick's Lee Cox, who swore and cursed from the home dug-out all afternoon, delivered J another verbal outburst. But even he managed a smile when' Donaghue netted at the death.
Team:(4-4-2): Chatfield; Duffield,' Russell, Westgate, Sleat; Garden, Potter, Grant, O'Hara; Churchill (Davies 62), Flint.