Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Chatham 0 |
 Horsham YMCA 1 Massaro 76 |
|
|
Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
ANOTHER valuable three points was ground out by Horsham YMCA as they won 1-0 at Chatham Town on Saturday.
They took another massive step towards safety in their first season in the Ryman League.
It was a six pointer against a side below YM in Division 1 South and John Suter's men did a professional job in a game that was not pretty.
It was, however, livened up by a Christmas cracker from Pat Massaro, whose 76th minute volley separated the two sides.
YM manager Suter commented: "I'm extremely happy with that.
"To come here and get three points on a difficult playing surface, against a side full of enthusiasm, hard work and pace - credit to us.
"We've stuck at it, we've worked hard, we've clawed our way back into the game.
"The longer the game has gone on the better we have been, apart from the last five minutes when they threw everything, including the kitchen sink and the goalkeeper, at us," he added.
Chatham, despite having more of the ball, barely threatened, apart from one good first half save by Dean Ruddy and the last few minutes of pressure by the hosts.
The home side made bright start and Ruddy was called into action in the tenth minute when Darren Smith played a lovely reverse pass to Luke Harvey but the keeper saved well with his legs.
Chatham's efforts were becoming increasingly sporadic and from distance with YM not creating much at the other end.
Massaro hit an instinctive shot on the turn over the bar and the more the half went on, the more YM got a foothold in the game.
John Whitehouse saved well when Thomas Binks nearly put through his own goal.
Early in the second half YM received a scare when an Ellis Hooper back pass took a nasty bobble and Ruddy completely miss kicked but Glen Woodburn got back to clear the danger with Harvey lurking.
The YM management duo then threw on Richard Greenfield with good effect.
"I think Richard Greenfield changed the game, he could and should have scored a second goal. He ruffled the back four with his pace," said Suter.
A Massaro free kick was headed wide by Woodburn but it was not long before the breakthrough was made.
Scott Kirkwood did well to keep the ball and set up Dean Garden who picked out Massaro at the far post, he peeled off and expertly volleyed across the keeper into the bottom corner.
Greenfield skipped past his man and set up Kirkwood but Wayne Brown got an excellent block in.
The chances continued when Massaro released Greenfield who raced away and curled the ball past Whitehouse but it came agonisingly back off the inside of the post.
It was Chatham's turn to go close in the dying minutes as the keeper came up for a corner and met it with a bullet header that was well blocked, as was his rebound, and YM dramatically survived.
"I think the goalkeeper should play up front, it was a stonking header and he rifled in a shot," remarked Suter.
"Five games unbeaten, two goals conceded in that time, three clean sheets in a row. You wouldn't have written this in the summer - it's exceeded our wildest dreams.
"It was a veritable six pointer," said the boss.
"The team spirit is excellent. I cannot speak highly enough of it, everybody works hard for each other and really runs for each other.
"I said to the lads before the game, 'none of you have given me a Christmas present, if you want to give me a Christmas present, three points will do'.
"And I'm delighted with the present," commented Suter.
"There is a buzz about the dressing room, and it's reflected on the pitch, people are prepared to work for each other and do the business."
Man of the match: Glen Woodburn - was terrific at the back as all the defence played well.
Magic moment: Pat Massaro's stunning winner.
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Hooper, Woodburn, Fitzgerald; Duffield, White, Kirkwood, A Ottley; Russell (Greenfield 71), Massaro.
