Match Report
John O'Hara League Challenge Cup - 3rd Rnd
 Horsham YMCA 0 |
 Rye & Iden 4 Fox 24, 57, 85 Russel 25 (og) |
Date: 27th November 2004 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: West Sussex County Times
YM TURNED in one of their worst performances of the season when they were dumped out of the John O'Hara Cup by Rye.
They were hammered 4-0 at home with Simon Fox burying a hat-trick in the rout of the league leaders.
"We were very poor," said a disconsolate YM manager John Suter. "It ranks amongst our worst of the season. Rye did play very well, but Wayne Potter was the only one who performed to a similar level of how he can play."
Suter made a few changes,pairing Nick Flint and Clinton Moore up front, and the hosts must have fancied their chances of an early goal when Rye kicked off with only ten players.
However, it was hard to tell which team had the numerical advantage and by the time the llth Rye player arrived, after 15 minutes, it was clear that the visitors meant business.
They took the lead in the 24th minute, albeit courtesy of a YM mistake. Peter Baker swung a corner in, Ian Chatfield missed his punch and the ball ricocheted into the net off the unfortunate Ali Russell's knee.
YM registered their first shot on goal when Flint's effort trickled towards the Rye keeper, while Barrie Westgate should have done better with a header that flashed wide from Nathan Sleat's free-kick.
Rye's second goal, which came on the stroke of half-time, could not have come at a worse time for YM. Fox, who nipped away all afternoon, converted from close range after Baker had set him up.
It was game, set and match in the 57th minute, thanks to a goal fashioned from Billy Smart's Circus. The usually reliable Matt Duffield recovered after a slip but ended up clearing the ball straight into Baker.
The rebound fell kindly for Fox who netted his second.
The scoring was completed ten minutes from the end. Fox, with his back to goal, controlled the ball, turned and fired past Chatfield for his hat-trick. "The final whistle could not have come soon enough," added Suter.
"Flint and Moore were like two moths around a candle, James Grant and Dean Garden were similar."
Team:(4-4-2):Chatfield; Duffield, Westgate, Russell, Sleat; Garden (Bidwell 70), Potter, Grant, O'Hara; Moore (Davies 70), Flint (Carter 60).