Match Report
County League: Division One
 Cray Wanderers 2 G.Abbot 32 L.Wood 78 |  Horsham YMCA 0 |
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Source: Alan Norbury West Sussex County Times |
FOR A side not used to the underdog tag, Horsham YMCA lived up to their new role in the Ryman League with a plucky performance against Cray Wanderers.
Saturday's workmanlike display saw John Suter's County League champions go down 2-0 in Bromley - but he was pleased with the display which saw the away side almost snatch at least one goal on the break. "The whole day was a good experience, it's tremendous that we are playing at this higher level," Suter enthused.
"You cannot be pleased with a defeat, but I'm not too disappointed with the performance.
"It's important to see that we can compete in this league and we can compete against teams like Cray.
"Everybody worked hard and showed the commitment that I like to see."
YM overcame a nervy ten minutes in the opening period to compete toe to toe with their hosts, and a solid defensive display was of utmost importance, while new goalkeeper Eric Pudaloff looked to be a commanding presence.
The five man back line was not tested until a flurry of chances was sparked when Adam Young forced a corner from Dean Garden in the 24th minute.
From the resulting set piece, Steve Best blocked Mark Willy's shot and from that corner Pudaloff had to smother a Lewis Wood effort.
This brought YM to life and the Gorings Mead outfit almost took the lead on the break four minutes later. James Grant lifted a bouncing ball into Matt Russell's path and from the edge of the box the striker unleashed a powerful volley which Wands' stopper Steve Northwood palmed over for a corner.
But just as the home side's frustration looked to be increasing, veteran striker Gary Abbott lifted their spirits ten minutes before half-time.
Jamie Wood found some space on the left wing and lofted a ball towards the far post for Abbott to rise lenged and loop a header beyond the stranded Pudaloff. But Cray could have considered themselves lucky to be ahead at the break.
YM's sheer size, (Best, Glen Woodburn and Ellis Hooper), at set pieces was troublesome throughout the game and possibly their best route back into the match.
New signing Kevin Keehan sent in a high corner which eventually fell at the feet of Woodburn six yards out. From a tricky angle he crashed a shot against the inside of the post and Northwood was a relieved man when the ball bobbled back into his arms.
Russell was again denied when Woodburn nodded another corner into his path, and YM went into the break the happier of the two teams.
Cray must have had the team talk ringing in their ears at the stat of the second period as they dominated with sharp passing and lively movement, while the cohesion YM had enjoyed was starting to disappear.
But the pleasing thing for Suter was the lack of chances Cray, a team expecting a top six finish, were creating. The isolated Russell had the next best opportunity on 64 minutes, picking up Garden's ball into the right channel, and Northwood did well to hold on to the cross/shot.
Suter commented: "We were mindful of the fact we didn't want to get overrun, but we were losing out on going forward."
Fitness appeared a factor in the last half hour, and Abbott played like a man half his age, using the ball intelligently. He fired wide before Woodburn was forced into a great tackle on Lewis Wood.
Before the game, YM's management team had warned about the naivety of their players, words that came home to roost on 78 minutes when Hooper's casual header on the halfway line proved costly.
Dean Morris picked the ball up and skipped past Garden before flicking a cross towards Abbott, who touched it into the path of Lewis Wood to ram home from close range.
Pat Massaro had replaced James Grant up front, but he and Russell were left chasing lost causes as the match petered out - but Suter was proud of his battlers.
"We were nervous and that showed in the first ten minutes, we have no complaints about getting beaten," he said.
Man of the match:
Glen Woodburn - a threat at set pieces and some fine covering tackles.
Magic moment:
Matt Russell gave a glimpse of his quality with a stinging volley in the first half.
YM (5-3-2): Pudaloff; Garden, Woodburn, Hooper, Best, Shuga'a; Gellatly, White, Keehan (Shoefield 65); Grant (Massaro 70), Russell.
Cray Wanderers: Northwood, Lee, Morris, Hannigan, Willy, Young(Hall, 79), Lover(Woolf, 29), Kempster, Abbott (Baker, 85), L Wood, J Wood.