Match Report
County League:Division One
 Horsham YMCA 1 Moore 33 (pen) |  Eastbourne town 0 |
Date: 8th January 2005 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: by Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times
YM BOUNCED back from their first league defeat with a 1-0 win at home to Eastbourne Town.
It was a test of their title credentials to see how they would react after losing their unbeaten record.
The table toppers passed as they grafted out the victory but they were far from their best despite creating enough chances to win the game by more than the one goal.
A Clinton Moore penalty decided the game but YM could not kill off their opponents as they pressed for an equaliser, displaying belief that they could get something out of the game.
Now that YM have finally been beaten they have lost their air of invincibility and sides like Eastbourne Town will come to Gorings Mead believing they can win. However, YM showed enough character to earn the three points.
At the start of the match the visitors appeared to be up for the battle more than the hosts, being first to the ball and winning the 50-50s, but the hosts got going midway through the first half and started prizing open the Eastbourne defence.
"No team can win every game as Arsenal found out, we were going to lose at some point," said manager John Suter.
"It was just the next game for us but I am pleased with the result, any three points we get is excellent news," he added.
YM received an early warning that it was not going to be easy when the visitors scored in the seventh minute but it was ruled out for offside, Gary Brockwell curled in a cross that was flicked into the net but the assistant referee's flag denied them the lead.
An Ian Chatfield error nearly gifted Eastbourne a goal when he was attempting to let the ball run out of play but was tackled by Stefan Fuller, Steve Dallaway crossed but Tom Carter cleared with the keeper still racing back to get in-between the posts.
In the 22nd minute Dallaway had a chance to score but volleyed straight at Chatfield.
YM had a good opportunity to score a minute later when Moore crossed and Steve Davies helped the ball on with his back to goal but the predatory flick went just wide.
Captain Matt Duffield then had a deflected effort saved after Davies held the ball up well in the box and laid it off.
YM took the lead in the 33rd minute. Dean Garden delivered a cross which was only half cleared to James Grant. He brought the ball down and burst into the box only to be fouled. Moore stepped up and coolly despatched the penalty, sending Russell Tanner the wrong way.
Shortly after Joel O'Hara drove into the box and tried to pick out
Moore but the ball was cleared tc Duffield who blazed over the top.
Duffield turned provider and whipped in a cross that found Moore. However the forward failed to connect properly and the shot trickled wide.
Eastbourne then had a great chance to level the scores after the interval when Dallaway cut the ball back for Steve King but he could not keep his shot down and missed the target.
YM should have doubled their lead in the 50th minute when Grant broke clear and passed to Davies, his shot was blocked but it looped up to Moore who completely missed his kick with the goal gaping. The ball eventually came back to Davies who drilled it inches wide of the upright.
Davies then latched on to a big goal kick by Chatfield and volleyed wide of the near post and O'Hara had an effort blocked as the chances continued to flow.
The visitors' bench was prematurely celebrating when Dallaway went through one-on-one and clipped it past Chatfield, it looked to be going in but went just wide to cut the festivities short.
Duffield and Nick Flint worked a short corner that made its way through to Barrie Westgate who thumped a shot against the underside of the cross bar and Davies put the rebound wide.
With a little over ten minutes remaining Eastbourne were desper¬ately searching for an equaliser but the hosts caught them on the break and Tanner got down sharply to hold Grant's strike.
In the 84th minute Greg Manton had a fantastic opportunity to level things but as he came steaming into the penalty area he did not control his shot and thrashed the ball over the bar.
YM could have put the icing on the cake in injury time when Flint unselfishly set up Davies, he shot tamely at the keeper who must have seen taking tips from Roy Carroll is he managed to spill the ball but grabbed it just before it went over he line.
YM have a trip to Eastbourne United tomorrow as they bid to keep the gap at the top a substantial one.
Team:(3-5-2): Chatfield; Westgate, Hooper, Carter; Garden (Flint 61), Duffield, Butcher, Grant, O'Hara; Moore (Levett 69), Davies.