Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 0 |
 Leatherhead Stevens 27, 31, 82(pen) |
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Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
THERE was to be no dramatic comeback this time as Horsham YMCA were humbled 3-0 by a clinical Leatherhead.
Led by hat-trick hero skipper Dave Stevens, the visitors brushed YM aside, although they were gift wrapped two goals.
Defender Rob Mills had a game to forget as he was caught in possession on halfway for Leatherhead's second and gave away a penalty for their third.
An improved second half performance raised hopes of a last gasp draw to repeat the 2-2 at Hastings last week, but Stevens' 82nd minute penalty extinguished the YM fires.
Manager John Suter said: "I'm not going mad about it.
"My players have done their best, they all worked hard and I'm disappointed that it was not enough.
"Leatherhead deserved to win it, but two of the goals we have given away - we didn't play very well at the back, although I have to give credit to their two boys up front."
Suter was also disappointed at two pivotal moments, both of which came at 2-0. Matt Russell had a chance, with which he could have done better, scrambled off the line and Steve Davis missed a sitter when Peter Brackley's free kick hit the post.
YM started well and matched their opponents in the opening exchanges, although Mills gave an early taste of his nightmare afternoon when he lost out to Marc Charles-Smith who forced a good stop from Jason Dumbrill.
The home side had the majority of the play but could not create chances, while Charles-Smith caused havoc with his pace and power.
Leatherhead played a patient game and waited for YM to lose possession rather than pressing, and gained their reward after 27 minutes following a Nick Levett foul.
Steve Sargent floated the free kick towards the penalty spot, and stocky striker Stevens rose highest to flick past Dumbrill.
Four minutes later, Leatherhead were two goals to the good. In a crowded mid-field, Mills had few options and held on to the ball too long. Scott Bennett nipped in and mugged the centre back before releasing Charles-Smith who sprung the offside trap and squared for Stevens to score an easy tap in.
It was clinical stuff and Suter's men were rocking -life in the Ryman League was becoming harsher by the day.
Davis fizzed a shot over the bar as YM had an encouraging five minute spell before half time, and should have pulled one back through Russell.
James Grant's diving header was beaten away by Chris Gibson, but Russell didn't get enough on the rebound and Lynvall Duncan cleared.
The two sides traded chances at the start of the second period, with Charles-Smith (twice) and Scott Kirkwood going close.
Dumbrill was called into action on 54 minutes when Sargent hustled Mills off the ball as the match opened up.
Dean Garden played a beautiful one-two with Brackley but nobody could reach his low cross.
And minutes later Davis missed the chance of the game - set piece expert Brackley's free kick hit the inside of the post and the striker shot over from six yards on the stretch.
Kirkwood set up a lot of YM's attacks, and Brackley shot well over after Grant had laid back his lofted ball.
Leatherhead looked comfortable fending off the YM advances, and gleefully accepted their third when Mills was harshly adjudged to have felled Stevens inside the box. He expertly buried the spot kick to complete a miserable day for the home side.
"I think we have players whose confidence will be knocked by a result like that," remarked Suter.
"They are used to playing in a winning side, but now we are on the back foot.
"We looked like a Ryman side in the first 15, and in the second half we had a lot of the ball, if you watched until the penalty we were as good as Leatherhead."
Man of the match: Scott Kirkwood - neat and tidy and was YM's main creative spark.
Magic moment: Peter Brackley's well struck free kick which curled over the wall and was unlucky to hit the far post.
YM (4-4-2): Dumbrill; Garden, Mills, Hooper, Levett; Kirkwood, Grant (Shuga'a 67), White, Brackley; Russell (Greenfield 51), Davis.