Match Report
County League:Division One
 Whitehawk 2Garrod 9 Sargeant 83 |  Horsham YMCA 0 |
Date: 8th January 2005 Location: Whitehawk
Source: Russell Staves, West Sussex County Times
ALL GOOD things come to an end – just ask John Suter after YM's 18-game unbeaten league run came to a halt on Bank Holiday Monday.
After a magnificent start to the season which included 15 wins and three draws, YM were bullied into submission by a Whitehawk side who seemed determined to rough up the league leaders.
It was a ploy that worked as the visitors bent the rules to breaking point, particularly the impressive Stuart Garrod who flirted with the laws for most of the afternoon but was at the forefront of Whitehawk's best moments.
YM could only respond with a rag bag performance and the game was decided by two untidy goals.
Garrod got the first, catching Ian Chatfield off-guard with a mis-hit cross that looped into the far corner. The second, seven minutes from time, settled the game when Terry Sergeant nodded in after YM had passed up a great chance to clear the danger.
"I thought it was inevitable that we would lose at some point," said Suter. "I've got no complaints, we did not play very well. They deserved it, I said that to anyone who listened to me."
The veteran manager admitted that his side did not cope with a physical Whitehawk side who gave no quarter in the centre of the field.
"They did a very good job on us. They worked hard, put the ball under pressure and our passing and control was not good enough to cope with that. We kept on giving the ball away and never really opened them up," he added.
On a mild, sunny afternoon, it was clear from the early exchanges that Whitehawk would try and ruffle some feathers and upset YM's rhythm.
Their tactic was spot on, although their opening goal in the tenth minute was fortuitous to say the least.
Hawks player-manager Ian Chapman, whose comical own goal for Brighton against Leeds some years ago made David Seaman's Christmas bloopers DVD, bundled his way through two challenges as he charged into YM's half.
The ball was played wide to Garrod who sent a deep cross over the head of Chatfield which nestled in the far top corner. The reaction of the goalkeeper and Liam Ahearne suggested they thought the ball was sailing wide.
The hosts were rattled by the setback and their response was anything but measured. YM's headless chickens in midfield played into Whitehawk's hands, as their all-action, hustle and bustle troops were up for the battle. Even the normally cool Ellis Hooper looked like a hurried January sales shopper frantically hunting a bargain.
YM had to wait until the 27th minute for their first sight of goal when Lee Butcher's pinpoint pass, which bisected two defenders, sent Matt Duffield down the line.
The hosts' skipper bore down on the keeper but, hesitating due to the lack of support, was well tackled by his opposite number Andrew Beech.
Clinton Moore then hit a volley straight at the dodgy looking Wayne Collins moments later but Whitehawk were good value for their half-time lead.
When they did manage to work an opening, poor support from the midfield often meant possession was surrendered without much of a fight.
When they did manage to work an opening, poor support from the midfield often meant possession was surrendered without much of a fight.
Tom Smith should have put the visitors 2-0 up on the hour, but having outstripped Tom Carter he shot straight at the relieved Chatfield.
Whitehawk then squandered an even better opportunity midway through the half. Matt Hill's shot across goal was deflected into the path of Sargeant who missed from close range. The Whitehawk bench were on their feet celebrating thinking Sargeant had scored.
Tempers flared when Moore kicked the feisty Hill and O'Hara lunged in on the same player with his studs showing – both were lucky not to be booked – but it was Whitehawk who kept their heads while YM seemed more interested in telling the referee how to do his job.
Moore had a great chance to snatch an equaliser in the 77th minute but, with more time than he realised, struck the ball first time when he might have taken a touch.
The game was over in the 83rd minute. Carter's looping header looked to be going out for a corner but the ball was knocked back in to Sargeant who headed home from six yards out.
Team:(4-4-2): Chatfield; Ahearne (Westgate 73), Carter, Hooper, Levett (Carden 73); Duffield, Butcher, Grant, O'Hara; Flint (Davies 68), Moore.