Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2Kirkwood 18 Royston (og)46 |
 Maidstone United McNish 22 Royston 69 |
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Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
YM WITHSTOOD a second half aerial bombardment to win a well earned draw against Maidstone United on Saturday
John Suter's side twice went ahead through Scott Kirkwood and an own goal but the physically strong visitors pegged ihem back on both occasions, and applied some very muscu¬lar presence in the second half I hanks to a succession of pinpoint accurate long throw ins.
"They defended valiantly," Suter commented.
"It's a performance to be proud of - Maidstone are a proper side. I think it's a point gained rather than two lost.
"We had to withstand a lot ol pressure, not pressure created through football, but through long throws and corners.
"Each long throw was like a corner. What an advantage that is, anything inside the halfway line and it was into the box."
In a week when the 3-5-2 formation has been the topic of much debate, Maidstone looked far more comfortable with that system than England, with three giant centre backs allowing the towering Mario McNish to roam from the back, and nippy wing back Nathan Paul causing problems.
For all the visitors' possession however, they were met with a stern YM resistance. A clogged up midfield saw YM struggle to make any inroads, but they knew there would be space behind the wing backs if strikers Matt Russell and Steve Davis remained narrow.
The Stones' Nick Hegley, floating behind the front two, combined well with Simon Austin to create the first opportunity, just before Kirkwood headed YM into an unexpected lead on 18 min¬utes.
Dean Garden hit a diagonal ball towards the penalty spot and Kirkwood ghosted in unmarked to plant a header past the flat footed Pat Mullin.
A minute later, Russell almost doubled the lead, but couldn't make proper contact with Garden's pass as YM grew in confidence.
But the home side were stopped dead in their tracks when Maidstone piled all their big men, forward for a Jason Barton free-kick.
McNish lost his man and headed powerfully home at the far post.
Normal service was resumed as the visitors started to crank up the pressure, with McNish allowed to make a number of buccaneering runs from the sweeper position due to the formation.
YM always had the opportunity to break though, and the effervescent Garden sent a chance inches wide after a move which sped the length of the pitch, using that space behind the wing backs.
Garden was again involved when he made an acrobatic goalline block from Lynden Rowland's half volley after Ellis Hooper and Glen Woodburn were drawn wide by Hegley.
Just before the break came a flashpoint which could have turned the game. McNish and Russell were involved in a tangle on the floor which resulted in the Stones defender taking a swing at Mo Shuga'a.
He escaped with a booking, while Shuga'a and Garden also saw yellow.
YM took the lead moments into the second half when Kirkwood released Russell whose cut back towards the spot was bundled into his own net by Ryan Royston.
Maidstone responded by upping the tempo, and Austin warmed Jason Dumbrill's palms with a stinging shot before Rowland's low drive came back off the inside of the post.
But the real pressure was still to come, substitute Aaron Lacy came on, armed with a prodigious long throw.
His deliveries hurled into the box pinned YM back and under the pressure Davis headed a soft corner behind. From the set piece Royston atoned for his own goal by heading in Rowland's nod down.
Again, YM could break, and Davis spurned a good chance when put through by Tom White, before Richard Greenfield's introduction for the striker stretched the game.
Greenfield's pace troubled the Maidstone defence and allowed YM to press forward more, substitute Andy Ottley and Kirkwood both had one on ones well saved in the dying minutes and Matt Ottley headed over from a free kick.
Now it was Maidstone's chance to break, and Woodburn did well in the final act to scramble a bouncing ball of fthe line to save a precious point.
"We could have won it," Suter said.
"Scott [Kirkwood] and Andy's [Ottley] chances were the best,. but it was an excelelnt point."
Man of the Match: Dean Garden a prickly thorn in Maidstone's side
Magic moment: Glen Woodburn's last gasp goal mouth clearance to secure a point.
YM (4-4-2): Dumbrill; Carden, Woodburn, Hooper, Shuga'a, Brackley (A.Ottley 76), Whitefo, Kirkwood, Grant (M.Ottley 80); Davis (greenfield 77); Russell