Match Report
County League:Division One
 Eastbourne Town 0 |
 Horsham YMCA 1 O'Hara 79 |
Date: 23rd October 2004 Location: Eastbourne
Source: West Sussex County Times
JOHN SUTER insists he won't be hiring an open top bus for a championship parade just yet despite YM storming into a ten-point lead at the top of the County League.
The high-flying Gorings Mead club, who are still unbeaten in league action, won their ninth game of the season with a 1-0 victory at Eastbourne Town thanks to Joel O'Hara's 79th minute header from Nick Flint's cross.
"It's great at the moment but in the final season analysis, being top in October counts for nothing," said Suter.
The veteran manager is wary of their lofty position. In the 2000/2001 season, YM were level top with Pagham but ended up 20 points behind eventual winners Sidley.
"Anything could happen. It really does not mean a thing. It's where you are in May that matters," he added.
But Suter was pleased with the Eastbourne result. "We deserved it. We worked hard throughout the game and that is encouraging," he said.
Suter has miserable memories of Eastbourne's Saffrons ground. Last year, in league and cup action, YM conceded eight goals in two games without scoring.
"We lost 2-0 and 6-0 down there. We were dreadful at Eastbourne last year, it was the pits, an embarrassment. It was nice to put that to bed," added the 64 year old manager.
In a first half of few chances, Gary Bidwell had the first meaningful effort when his shot, following good build up play from Ali Russell and Nick Levett, was blocked by a defender.
James Grant, who creates so many goalscoring chances with his positive running from midfield, then forced Eastbourne keeper Russell Tanner into his first save of the afternoon.
Eastbourne wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Andy Ducille failed to connect with a header from Gavin Ramsden's free-kick.
"It was a difficult chance to miss," said Suter.
At the other end of the field, Barrie Westgate shot wide after Russell's flick-on fell invitingly for him, and Russell missed an equally good chance, heading O'Hara's cross straight at Tanner.
"We had most of the ball and most of the desire. We continued that in the second half," added Suter.
The chances kept falling for YM,with Russell failing to apply a finish after good work from Grant, Bidwell and O'Hara. Grant then fired another shot at Tanner.
O'Hara was the next to be thwarted by the Eastbourne keeper after chasing lan Chatfield's long kick, and the YM keeper had to be alert to deny John Steel in a rare attack by the hosts.
Grant, Flint and Russell spurned further opportunities but O'Hara finally broke the deadlock with a header 11 minutes from time.
Russell and Flint nearly doubled the lead but Tanner, who had a decent game between the sticks, foiled the YM pair.
Team:(4-4-2): Chatfield; Garden, Westgate, Carter, Levett; Bidwell (Flint 65), Bird, Grant, O'Hara; Russell, Churchill (Brabon 75).