Match Report
R.U.R. Cup, 3rd Round
 Horsham YMCA 0 |
 East Grinstead Town 1 Trevor 75 |
Date: 30th October 2004 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times
YM SUFFERED another cup exit when they had one of those days where they just could not score.
The hosts created a bucket load of chances but failed to make the breakthrough as they lost 1-0 to East Grinstead.
"The result was disappointing, we had a realistic chance of winning the RUR Cup," said veteran YM manager John Suter.
"It was one of those days, we had some glaring misses and Nick Flint had a day to forget. You can retrieve lost ground in the league but not in the cup. It was a shame," he added.
Suter's men squandered opportunities as early as the first minute. Flint jinked his way to the by-line and squared the ball only for Joel O'Hara and then Matt Duffield to be denied by a great double save from Dave Tidy.
It was a positive start by YM against the cup holders, the game might have been so different if one of those two efforts found the back of the net.
The visitors were wearing a horrible kit, they were forced into wearing bright red shorts because their black ones clashed with YM's. Added to their amber and black tops they looked far from impressive fashion-wise as well as football-wise in the opening exchanges.
YM were dominating the middle of the park and producing some nice build-up play until they got into their attacking third of the pitch where the final ball let them down on too many occasions in the first half.
The visitors had a few chances on the break and Kris Trevor and Dave Gallatly looked particularly dangerous.
It was Trevor's strike partner, Chris Arrow, that had their first chance but Ian Chatfield made a good save to keep it goalless.
Duffield then had a shot well blocked by a defender and Ally Russell could not connect properly with the rebound.
James Grant had a snap shot from the edge of the box that sailed over the bar as the home side pressed for the opening goal.
The league leaders could have had a penalty just before the break but were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the box when it appeared as though the offence happened inside the area.
Flint had beaten his marker, Adam Dart, for the umpteenth time but was fouled before he could get his shot or pass away.
Early in the second half and Grant made a dangerous run into the box, beating a couple of defenders before setting up Flint who sold a dummy to the keeper but with the goal gaping he placed the ball over the bar.
Another fantastic chance went begging when Flint again did the hard part to beat his marker but side-footed wide.
Wayne Potter nearly scored when the otherwise solid looking Tidy flapped at a corner but he was not punished as the shot was sliced wide.
East Grinstead came close to scoring a cracking goal as Gallatly mesmerised the YM defence as he cut in from the left but his shot flew inches wide of the upright.
The home fans thought YM had taken the lead and let out a cry of joy only to be silenced when they realised the shot had agonisingly missed the target again. Grant set up Flint who continued his unlucky day in front of goal by hitting the advertising boards.
East Grinstead broke the deadlock with 15 minutes remaining when a ricochet fell to Trevor and, with all the time in the world, he placed the ball under Chatfield for an unlikely lead.
The hosts were handed an immediate reprieve when O'Hara juggled the ball in the area before an intervention by an East Grinstead hand gave them a penalty. Unfortunately Flint stepped up and put the spot kick high, wide and not very handsome.
More chances followed as YM desperately tried to stay in the cup but despite the pressure East Grinstead hung on to go through to the fourth round.
Suter will be hoping for a change of fortune in their next fixture tomorrow at home to in-form Ringmer, for whom ex-Horsham midfielder Luke Gedling now plays.
Team:(4-4-2): Chatfield; Carden (Churchill 83), Levett, Westgate, Carter; Duffield (Bidwell 86), Potter, Grant, O'Hara (Sleat 86); Flint, Russell.