Match Report
Sussex Senior Cup
 Horsham YMCA 1 Duffield 39 |  Worthing 3 Browne 20 Pacquette 62 |
Date: 1st November 2005 Location: Worthing
Source: West Sussex County Times
YM DID themselves proud when they outplayed Ryman Premier outfit Worthing in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday night but were eventually knocked out 2-1.
The County League Division 1 champions played the better football and were unlucky to go behind to a cracking volley from Stafford Browne but Matt Duffield deservedly levelled.
However, former QPR man Richard Pacquette hit a second half winner as the hosts were unable to find a second equaliser and were dumped out of another cup competition.
"I'm very pleased with the performance, a total contrast to Saturday," said manager John Suter. "We've played a lot better opposition here and raised our game accordingly. Every player that played tonight can take something out of the game. They stood up and were counted.
"We tried to play football, we like to get the ball down and play. It was a good game for us to get back on track, we showed that we are not a bad side. Before the game I would have taken a 3-0 defeat looking at where the two sides are but I was disappointed not to equalise for a second time," he added.
YM were far from overawed by their Conference South chasing opponents and settled into the game quicker as James Grant, who was a constant thorn in the side of former Brighton & Hove Albion skipper Paul Rogers, got past his marker and crossed for Kris Trevor. However Marc Cable produced a brilliant lunging interception.
The Rebels took the lead in the 20th minute with a spectacular effort. Pacquette directed his header down towards Browne just outside the area who met it first time and the ball flew into the top corner, leaving lan Chatfield motionless.
Five minutes later YM were nearly level. Saudi Arabian Mazin Hudai - who is at YM while waiting for paperwork to clear before he plies his trade in Belgium - magnificently brought a long ball under control but his next touch was not quite as good as he poked it goalwards but was thwarted by a fine save from Dave Leaver.
Worthing came close to doubling their lead twice when Pacquette blasted over and then Danny Davis hit a stinging drive that was too hot to handle.
The hosts put the tie back in the balance in the 39th minute. After good work down the left, the ball was squared for Duffield to slot home.
Andy Alexander had a curler tipped over by Chatfield just before half-time then minutes after the break Davis blazed over.
The Gorings Mead club responded through Duffield shooting over on his weaker left foot before the lively Hudai was frustrated by Leaver once again.
Just after the hour mark came a moment of controversy which decided the tie. The assistant referee's flag stayed down when it looked tight, allowing Pacquette to race away and make no mistake, firing past Chatfield's outstretched right hand.
The home side put the pressure on and when the keeper fumbled Grant's deep cross Barrie Westgate twice saw efforts blocked.
Grant - who along with Trevor and Hudai were getting a lot of joy in the inside left channel - skipped past two defenders but Cable made another timely challenge.
Leaver saved well when Trevor broke clear, diving to his right and clutching the ball. The tricky forward then misplaced his header after a four-on-four break and was it desperately scrambled clear.
Rogers was switched to left-back to protect him from Grant but the YM midfielder followed him over to the other flank although had less joy.
Worthing were able to hang on for the victory with some fine blocks, especially when three men in white were queuing up to finish off a rebound from Duffield's shot.
YM were kept at bay for the remaining ten minutes as they were unable to test the diminutive keeper.
"I thought about throwing on another man up front but we didn't have anything on the bench and I wanted to keep our shape. It would have been unfair to ask Francis Vines to go on, he hasn't played in a long time and is 43," explained Suter.
Team: (4-4-2): Chatfield; Garden, Carter, Woodburn, Eldridge; Duffield, Westgate, Hooper, Grant; Trevor, Hudai.