Match Report
County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 0 |  Lewes 0 | |||
| YMCA won 3:2 on Penalties. |
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Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA claimed the Roy Hayden Trophy with a penalty shootout victory over Lewes on Tuesday evening.
It was a good work out for the Gorings Mead club as they improved a lot from Saturday's mauling by Ramsgate against the Conference South favourites.
YM were the better side in the first half against a largely reserve Lewes but the visitor's superior fitness showed after the break as they began to play more of the football.
However the hosts broke their penalty jinx with strikes by Kevin Keehan, Ellis Hooper and Ross Shoefield.
Dean Garden unusually hit the post from the spot, but Lewes missed three of theirs to hand the Sussex equivalent of the Community Shield to YM.
Manager John Suter commented: "It was an improvement on our pre-season games so far.
"It wasn't their first team, Paul Kennett and Leon Legg were their only ones but having said that they've got some good young players who moved the ball around well in the second half."
He added: "It was a good work out for us, the result is immaterial, OK we've got the trophy, but it was more about the performance. We never let them play football in the first half but tired in the second which is worrying."
YM showed potential but were often let down by the final ball, attempting to be too clever on occasions.
Matt Russell headed the home side's best chance wide in the first half when he should have done better, but did show glimpses of his brilliant best.
Mo Shuga'a looked lively down the left and had pace to burn before he was injured in the second half.
Tom White looked neat and tidy, good on the ball, and was economical but effective and substitute Keehan also looked like a great addition to the squad.
Captain Hooper played well as the spare man at the back, reading the game well with fellow central defender Rob Mills defending well until he was harshly sent off for a second bookable at the death.
Referee, Simon Meilak was maybe a little over zealous in flashing the cards considering a bad challenge by Kyle Williams-Hall escaped without a yellow shortly afterwards.
It was clear that the departure of lan Chatfield is not good for the club, his communication and organisation at the back will have to be replaced.
Jason Dumbrill was in the net for the first 45 and only had two things to do but did them well, brilliantly palming away a rasping drive from Kennett, then dealing well with the resulting corner under severe pressure.
John McBride donned the keeper's jersey for the second half and made a good stop but also looked shaky on balls into the box.
"Man of the match for me was Ellis Hooper, I thought he was very composed," said the manager.
"Our final ball was poor," bemoaned Suter.
He added: "Although I think we've only ever won one previous penalty shootout in my time, against Burgess Hill.