Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Burgess Hill Town 0 |
 Horsham YMCA 4Woodburn 8 Carden 56(pen) Russell 64 Kirkwood 90(+4) |
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Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
A RAMPANT Horsham YMCA dished out a 4-0 beating at Burgess Hill on Boxing Day.
Glen Woodburn headed the visitors in front early on, and after Dean Garden's 56th minute penalty Burgess Hill were on the ropes.
Matt Russell and Scott Kirkwood added two more goals as YM ran riot and could have added more with the Hillians on the canvas by the final whistle.
The result saw YM rise to sixth, closer to the play offs than the drop zone.
"That was terrific," said manager John Suter.
"I think it was probably our best performance of the season.
"Not just in terms of the scoreline but some of the football we played was terrific.
"The penalty was the turning point, once we scored the second goal their heads dropped a bit."
Suter added: "I have always said that we were never going to comprehensively beat a team in this league but we have just done that.
"Four clean sheets in a row. I'm delighted."
YM looked menacing from the off when Andy Ottley spurned a golden chance in the fourth minute, blazing a rebound over the bar.
Massaro then picked out hisstrike partner but Russell's volley was comfortably held by Chris May.
The visitors were soon in front when, Woodburn's header from, a corner could not be stopped on the line.
Burgess Hill worked their first opening when Kevin Joyce battled past two challenges and squared it for Ashley Jarvis who smashed over.
Phil Greatwich hit a shot that skipped up off the surface but Ruddy did well to cling on.
Lloyd Skinner then dragged a shot just across goal as the hosts enjoyed a good period of play.
Massaro failed to turn in a chance after good work by Kirkwood, and Matt Duffield hit the side netting in a good spell of YM pressure.
Ruddy saved well from Joe Bye's free kick just before half time to preserve the lead.
Burgess Hill continued where they left off after half time but only had captain Shaun Grice's shot that flew over to show for their efforts.
Then came the crucial moment when Massaro's cross was half headed clear and Kirkwood latched on to it before being chopped down.
Garden hit an unstoppable penalty into the bottom corner, past May's outstretched right hand and the Hillians had a mountain to climb.
Tom Edmonds couldn't keep his effort down after a near post corner was flicked on but it was all YM from then on.
Massaro released Ottley, he crossed into the danger area and the diminutive front man burst into the box and produced a clever step over which was neatly finished by Russell.
Twice Russell went close on the break and Steve Davies glanced a header wide before hitting a shot at May following good build up involving Massaro.
New signing Dan Sackman then saw another chance saved before the fourth was added in injury time.
Kirkwood sent Davies away and made a lung bursting run to get on the end of his cut back and finish emphatically from the edge of the box for a thoroughly deserved goal.
Man of the match: Pat Massaro - the forward put on one of his best YM games.
Magic moment: Scott Kirkwood's goal was the icing on the Christmas cake.
Turning point. Dean Garden's penalty gave YM a 2-0 lead
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Hooper, Woodburn, Levett; Duffield, White, Kirkwood, A Ottley (Greenfield 74); Russell (Davies 74), Massaro (Sackman 80).