Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Dartford 4 N.Barnes B.Cass(2) E.McClements |
 Horsham YMCA 2S.Davies M.Ottley |
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| Source:West Sussex County Times |
YM SET out to fight fire with fire in a bid to ruin Dartford's big day, as the Kent side celebrated the opening of their smart new stadium.
Roared on by almost 4,100 fans amid pomp and ceremony, Dartford ran out 4-2 winners in a blistering match, but Horsham YMCA, who lined up in a 4-3-3 formation to combat the home side's attacking set up, played their part and emerged with a great deal of credit.
"We tried to get on the front foot and mirrored their formation," said YM manager Suter.
"Dartford have got some real quality in wide positions.
"All in all it was a creditable performance, we played our part in their big day and we earned a few friends."
Following an action packed opening ceremony and a fireworks display, the two sides took to the pitch holding a mascot's hand, a la international football.
Once the game started, Dartford were the better side, spurning a good chance before an injury to James Grant virtually gifted them a goal.
Grant went down early on with a knee injury, and as he struggled on he couldn't return a Nick Levett pass. Ryan Hayes then stole in, before crossing well for Brendan Cass to score his fifth goal in two games against YM.
Grant went off after 14 minutes and has been ruled out of action for eight weeks with damaged knee ligaments.
With YM on the back foot, stopper Dean Ruddy 'made an excellent save before they could manage a foothold.
A welcome equaliser came on the half hour mark, when Andy Ottley's corner was headed in by brother Matt at the far post. With the fervent home support now muted, YM sought to take advantage of a purple patch and could have gone 2-1 up, but Anthony Henry scrambled Steve Da vies' one-on-one shot off the line.
Moments later, YM were cursing their luck when Ruddy came for a corner but in a sea of bodies got nowhere near the ball -which fell for Cass.
The striker hit a low shot and Matt Ottley's attempted goalline clearance smacked against the inside of the post and into the roof of the net.
"It was a tale of goalline clearances, if we had some role reversal we would have been 2-1 up at half time," Suter mused.
Dartford went further ahead on 55 minutes when good work by Tommy Osbourne set up Eddie McClements to unleash a screamer into the top right hand corner.
Not inclined lie down and die, YM continued to make a game of it and scored while they enjoyed a great spell of pressure. This time Davies popped up at the far post to head an Andy Ottley corner home for 3-2.
For the next five minutes YM were camped inside Dartford's area, Ellis Hooper and Andy Ottley went close three times between them.
But with quarter of an hour to go, the home side wrapped up the points when Nick Barnes' goalbound shot deflected in off Matt Ottley.
YM (4-3-3): Ruddy; Garden, Wopdburn, M Ottley, Levett; White, Kirkwood, Hooper; Grant (Shuga'a 14) (Greenfield 75), A Ottley, Davies