Match Report
County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 1Kirkwood 14 |
 Molesey 2 Lampard 30 Brown 69(pen) |
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Source: Alan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
YM MISSED out on an FA Cup pay day after crashing out of the competition to Ryman Division One South rivals Molesey.
Devistated manager John Suter described the defeat as the 'worst performance from his side in three seasons' after a Sam Lampard volley and a penalty from Steve Brown consigned YM to their fate.
"We didn't play like that last season and we haven't played like that this season," Suter reflected.
"If I take Jason [Dumbrill] out of the equation, everyone else underachieved."
The game started positively for the Gorings Mead side, despite missing Dave Gellatly, Pat Massaro, Matt Duffield and Glen Woodburn, they were the stronger team.
Scott Kirkwood went close with a header after eight minutes, just sending Tom White's centre over the bar and James Grant had the beating of Molesey left back Phil Caughter.
YM's goal on 14 minutes came after a scare at the other end when White failed the clear his lines and Warren Burton shot wide. Seconds later, the ball was in the Moles' net.
Grant leapt well to divert a header into Matt Russell's' path, and the striker saw Kirkwood with space on the left, his pass allowed the winger to take a touch before curling a shot past the flat footed Chuck Martini.
All of a sudden though, the home side hit a brick wall. Molesey responded well to going a goal behind, and Ashraf Tougheiri started to give glimpses of quality in a messy and often bruising game.
A period of sustained pressure saw the Moles level through Lampard on the half hour.
Dean Garden had embroiled himself in a war of words with Burton, which resulted in the centre forward going down under the right back's innocuous challenge.
From Brown's resulting free kick, Jason Dumbrill punched clear of the box, but the ball looped invitingly for Lampard who side footed home a controlled volley.
Just seconds after the restart, Ellis Hooper was a little too casual and Toughieri almost added an instant second.
For the final 15 minutes of the half YM completely lost their shape and passing rhythm, Russell and Steve Davies were forced to chase aimless long balls which came straight back at the back four.
Molesey's direct football was more effective, and Martini's long clearances caused problems.
Hooper and Steve Best were unable to halt Burton's progress after a ball pumped in caused havoc in the YM box, but the shot was tamely struck into Dumbrill's arms.
YM continued to be scrappy in the second half and skipper Hooper was lucky to avoid a second booking for body checking Toughieri.
Davies offered the first piece of good forward line work since the 25th minute when he drove into the box and shot wide before missing the target again when teed up by Kirkwood.
Mo Shuga'a replaced Grant as Suter shuffled his pack but the creative spark was not firing at all.
On 69 minutes Molesey pushed forward again, and from one of Lampard's rare sorties down the right flank, earned a penalty. Lampard had got the wrong side of Nick Levett and when he crossed, the ball struck the defender's arm - he had no complaints.
Brown sent Dumbrill the wrong way to give Molesey a crucial 2-1 lead.
Cup game mentality calls for the kitchen sink to be thrown at your opposition to force a goal, but YM didn't. Russell missed a fine chance from a Ken Westoby cross and Shuga'a failed to take advantage of two difficult opportunities in the last few minutes -he was first denied by a goal saving tackle from Chris Wales and failed to connect with a right footed volley seconds from time.
Molesey almost added a third on the break, but Dumbrill saved bravely at Brahim Elounani's feet.
Suter commented: "So many people made mistakes
"I can't believe it's nerves, we have played a lot better teams than that.
"When you have played the good teams like Kingstonian and Cray you shouldn't be nervous about Molesey.
"The only positive is that it isn't us playing at the top of our form.
"That's £1,000 gone, we are working so hard to try and generate funds. I'm so depressed about it."
Man of the match: Jason Dumbrill. Made a couple of crucial stops but there were not a lot of other candidates.
Magic moment: Scott Kirkwood's goal was simple football followed by a lovely finish.
YM (4-4-2): Dumbrill; Garden, Hooper, Best, Levett; Grant (Shuga'a 67), White, Keehan (Westoby 73), Kirkwood (Bird 88); Russell, Davies.