Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Croydon Athletic 0 |
 Horsham YMCA 2Grant 58 Hooper 90(+4) |
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Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
AFTER conceding an avalanche of goals in the previous ten days, the main priority for YM on Saturday was to tighten up at the back.
And manager John Suter seemed to have pulled off a masterstroke by putting mid-fielder Tom White in a sweeper position, effectively shutting out the Croydon Athletic attacks.
White was a revelation in his new role, organising the central defensive duo of Glen Woodburn and Matt Ottley, while his positional play was second to none.
Young American goalkeeper Dean Ruddy made his debut and helped shore up the back line with a very competent show of handling and awareness.
This tighter looking side allowed James Grant and Ellis Hooper to score second half goals, to the travelling delight.
"We tried to set it up not to concede goals," Suter said.
"We didn't have a lot of threat in the first half because we had set it up the way we did, but that was job done at half time. We were a little more adventurous in the second half without being so adventurous we left ourselves open at the back, and to get the first goal was terrific."
YM's task was made easier midway through the second period when at 1-0, Croydon's Charley Side saw red after an ugly lunge at Ruddy earned him a second yellow card. As the Rams pressed, Hooper added the second with almost the last kick of the game.
Things started nervously for YM, as Croydon looked for an early opener. Thankfully the home side were unable to do anything with the ball in the final third, Paul Scott blazed over from distance as Athletic's bright opening Came to an end.
YM's territorial advances came in the form of set pieces after Dean Garden was targeted for some rough house treatment from the home midfield.
But when they made it to the box, the delivery let them down too often, a good example came when Pat Masarro robbed James Parker and Matt Russell's cross sailed into James Wastell's arms.
Hooper, playing in mid-field, had YM's first chance after 16 minutes of an even first half, lifting a half volley over the bar.
Ruddy was called into action when he palmed away a Side shot after Scott Kirkwood's careless pass, and the young stopper looked to be growing in confidence, especially from high balls into the box.
Croydon grew increasingly frustrated as the half drew to a close, YM held a good shape and refused to allow any gaps. When a half chance did present itself, Ruddy got down sharply to stop it. While Mo Shuga'a was arguing the toss over a free-kick, Barry Gardner played a quick ball to Side, who turned on the penalty spot and hit a stinging low shot.
Croydon upped the tempo after the break, but still found YM's defensive wall standing firm, and Suter's side started to see chances come their way - Grant sliced a shot woefully wide after a darting run and turn created the opening.
YM's opener came after a slick move on 58 minutes involving Shuga'a and Masarro, saw Kirkwood ghost into the box - Wastell rushed out to deny the midfielder bravely at his feet, but the ball fell for Grant who speared a shot into the roof of the net.
The game had opened up now, and Grant put another chance over after substitute Steve Davis pounced on Sam Hewitt's poor clearance.
Still frustrated at the lack of cutting edge, Croydon went down to ten men after Side's clash with Ruddy sparked a 17 man confrontation.
But the Rams reacted well to losing a man, all of a sudden they had space in the YM half and produced their best spell of pressure. They found Woodburn to be in commanding form though and the big centre back repelled the swarm of purple shirts.
Just as the points appeared safe, Ruddy made a great reaction stop when Julian Curnow and Billy Jackson got the better of Garden and Jackson fizzed an effort towards the near post.
Deep into time added on, due to Side's messy dismissal, Wasteil decjded to come up for a corner. It wpuld prove to be a costly error as Hooper headed clear and Richard Greenfield judged the retu pass to perfection allowing Hooper to gallop clear and pass the ball into the empty net to seal three points.
Suter remarked: "After what we had lately, conceding ten goals in two games, to have a clean sheet with three points was everything we could wish for."
Man of the match: Tom White - cool, calm and organised.
Magic moment: Dean Ruddy's fine reaction stop just before half time.
YM (5-3-2): Ruddy; Garden, Woodburn, White, Ottley, Shuga'a; Kirkwood, Hoc Grant (Brackley 76) Massarro (Davis 62), Russell (Greenfield 80)
