Match Report
County League: Division One
 Redhill 1Morgan 34(pen) |  Horsham YMCA 2 Duffield 30 Grant 86 |
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| Source: West Sussex County Times |
YM LEFT it late to see off Redhill 2-1 and extend their lead at the top of the league to three points.
The visitors dominated the game against their Surrey opponents but struggled to find the back of the net.
Captain Matt Duffield gave the champions the lead but that was quickly cancelled out by a Michael Morgan penalty.
Chances went begging for YM until the impressive Matt Russell popped up with the winner just three minutes from time.
"I'm happy with the performance and the result," said manager John Suter. "The only thing that really matters is the result at this stage. It could have been a bigger scoreline but we got the three points."
Joel O'Hara had two early half chances but did not connect properly, and the keeper easily held on.
Danny Kelton was then forced into an excellent save from Nick Flint after he had been put through by Russell.
The chances continued to flow with a spectacular overhead kick from Dave Gellatly from Russell's knock down cleared off the line by Stuart Channon.
It was Flint's turn to spurn the next opportunity when he under hit a shot. "We just didn't seem to make contact with the ball properly," remarked Suter.
YM did take the lead on the half hour mark when a James Bird clearance found Russell, who played it to Gellatly, he knocked it inside to Duffield, the skipper took a touch and passed the ball past the on rushing Kelton.
The hosts nearly responded immediately as Morgan failed to get a sweet strike on the end of a flowing move.
However, Redhill did level in the 33rd minute when Ellis Hooper was adjudged to have brought down Jamie Sinclair. Morgan stepped up and sent lan Chatfield the wrong way.
YM broke swiftly, in a lovely move which spanned the length of the pitch involving Bird, Russell and Flint, O'Hara's shot was tipped over by the outstretched hand of Kelton.
An excellent cross from Russell took the keeper out of the game and a flying Gellatly could not quite get enough of his head on the ball as it went agonisingly wide.
Gellatly then put a great ball into the six yard box that was scrambled away to safety with YM forwards lurking dangerously.
The Gorings Mead outfit started the second half like they finished the first - creating chances. Russell found Flint who released O'Hara but Sinclair was somehow able to get back and clear off the line after the winger had rounded Kelton.
Redhill's only effort, in a rear guard action after the break, came when Morgan hit the side netting.
Kelton saved well from James Grant before Russell missed a sitter. The striker expertly made space for himself but shot wide.
He made amends in the 87th minute when he clinically turned in a near post cross from Grant to score the winner.
There was still time for Russell to miss again, after a neat one-two with Grant he fired wide having gone round the Redhill stopper.
"His [Russell's] play was terrific, the control and vision excellent, but the goalscoring touch let him down," commented Suter.
Title rivals, Ringmer were held to a goalless draw to set up a mouth watering clash at the Caburn Ground on Saturday between the top two.
"I try not to think about Ringmer and how they are doing, concentrate on ourselves. What's on offer on Saturday is three points for the winner. No league title will be won or lost at Ringmer.
"It is a big game, one that we relish at this time of the season," said Suter.
Team: (4-4-2): Chatfield; Garden, Hooper, Woodburn, Levett; Duffield, Bird, Gellatly, O'Hara; Russell, Flint (Grant 65).