Match Report
Sussex County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 2 Trevor 53 Grant 67 |  Littlehampton Town 0 |
Date: 16th August2005 Location: Gorings Mead
Source: by Russell Staves, West Sussex County Times
YM BEGAN their defence of the title in ideal fashion on Tuesday night, but they needed some heroics from goalkeeper Ian Chatfield to secure the three points.
On a balmy evening at Gorings Mead, it was Littlehampton's Steve Davies - YM's top-scorer in their championship winning year - who looked the most likely scorer on either side and only a handful of top-notch saves from Chatfield kept YM on an even keel.
Midway through the half, the former Horsham stopper was at full stretch to push Billy Raynor's searing drive onto the post. The Littlehampton players thought it had crossed the line, but Chatfield quickly grabbed the loose ball after it bounced back off the upright.
The YM keeper saved his best for the end of the half. Davies, who was a threat all night, played an intelligent one-two on the edge of the box before rifling a shot across goal which Chatfield somehow palmed wide.
It was a different story after the break and YM's first goal, which came on 53 minutes, changed the game. Ali Russell, who was a menace when in advanced positions, laid a wonderful pass through to Kris Trevor who clinically fired into the bottom corner.
YM made it 2-0 midway through the half and again Russell was the cornerstone of the move. Displaying great strength to hold off his marker,
Russell laid the ball back to James Grant who belted in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
The Littlehampton players looked down, rightfully so considering the first half, but they almost went 3-0 down to what would have been the goal of the game ten minutes from time.
Russell Eldridge's ball looked to be heading nowhere until the mercurial Nick Flint sublimely trapped it dead before expertly lifting it over the Littlehampton keeper. Unfortunately for the YM forward, the ball bounced agonisingly back off the crossbar.
Team: (4-4-2): Chatfield Garden, Woodburn, Carter, Eldridge; Bidwell (Duffield 52), Westgate, Russell Grant; Flint, Trevor.