Match Report
SCFA Senior Cup: 3rd Round
 Oakwood 1 |  East Grinstead 1 |
Date: 26th January 2005 Location: Oakwood
Source: West Sussex County Times
LEAGUE leaders YM were stunned by Oakwood as they were dumped out of the Sussex Senior Cup.
The mid-table County League 2 side caused a huge upset when they beat the runaway leaders of Division 1 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
A Zak Newman penalty just before the half hour mark was enough for the battling hosts as YM found out that they cannot afford to juggle their squad around as the likes of Jose Mourinho can.
"I left Matt Duffield, Ali Russell and Ellis Hooper on the bench and got it wrong," said manager John Suter.
"This was not because I thought Oakwood were cannon fodder but to rotate the squad and get everyone match fit, our side didn't play well. They were more motivated than us," he added.
"If you didn't have results like that then football would be a poorer game. They were lively, worked hard and defended well," said Suter, who was full of praise for his conquerors.
In the five previous league and cup games that YM have not scored in this season they have lost, and this trend continued as they drew a blank and were on the wrong end of a giant killing.
The visitors received an early warning as Oakwood had a goal disallowed after 20 minutes when Nick Prichard, who caused problems all night, got down the left and whipped in a cross that was finished off by Newman only to see it ruled out for offside.
The warning was not heeded as the hosts took the lead nine minutes later when Joel O'Hara jumped with his arms in the air from a corner and the ball was headed against his hand. Newman converted the spot kick when he sent Ian Chatfield the wrong way.
In between Oakwood popping the ball into the back of the net twice Nick Flint had an opportunity but he headed Clinton Moore's cross over the bar.
Flint was then put through before half-time but Michael Wood turned his effort round the post.
After the interval the visitors had most of the play but too many indifferent performances from their players cost them dear.
O'Hara had a right footed drive saved and then scrambled clear, Flint shot straight at the keeper and headed wide from an excellent Hooper cross. Wood made a great double save to stop Flint's free-kick and then thwarted Russell on the rebound.
The best chance fell to former Oakwood player James Grant in the 81st minute after Russell was pushed in the area but Grant struck the penalty wide. "We knew it was not going to be our day when that happened," commented Suter.
YM WILL be hoping to bounce back in the league when they face the short trip to local rivals Three Bridges on Tuesday evening.
"How we recover from the Oakwood defeat is very important, it is a big game," said Suter.
"They are the fourth best side in the league when you look at points dropped," he added.
There is a bitter rivalry between the two sides who were due to don the gloves on Boxing Day but the fixture had to be rescheduled due to the weather.
Three Bridges have hit form of late after a stuttering start to the season and have a good record at home to YM.
They have not lost in their last ten league and cup matches.
Team:(4-4-2): Chatfield; Carden, Westgate, Carter, Levett; Bidwell (Duffield 60), Ahearne (Russell 60), Grant, O'Hara; Moore (Hooper 65), Flint.