Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 3 Kirkwood 45(+1), 49 Garden 88(pen) |
 Dartford 2Hafner 3, 53 |
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Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
DEAN Garden smashed home a winning penalty in a hectic last five minutes as Horsham YMCA claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory against high flying Dartford.
The Darts are genuine title candidates, and so far this season had put ten goals in two games past YM.
But a dogged performance, led by Tom White and Dan Sackman in midfield, saw the home side upset the apple cart with their first win of 2007.
"I couldn't be more pleased with everyone," acting manager Tommy Sampson said.
"Maidstone, Dartford, Reel and Dover have all been here and have not beaten us, today was the first time we have gone 1 -0 down since November 18 and to come back against a quality side like that was brilliant."
Dartford have two of the league's top scorers in Brendon Cass and Jay May, but it was wide man Steve Hafner who gave YM an early jolt.
Glen Woodburn's weak clearing header from Tommy Osbourne's cross fell invitingly and he had time to loop his header beyond Dean Ruddy to score after just three minutes.
At the back, YM were in disarray and the large travelling support were looking at the prospect of another thrashing.
Ellis Hooper had a job organising the defence as Cass headed directly at Ruddy and the pressure was intense.
In a bid to break out, YM attempted to turn their opposition with balls over the top, allowing the pace of Richard Greenfield and Pat Massaro to cause a nuisance.
That enabled them to get a foothold and after half an hour Scott Kirkwood had their first chance, just missing the target from range after Darts keeper James Tedder had ventured out of his box to intercept Greenfield.
Kirkwood was also on hand to grab the leveller in first half injury time.
Massaro's free kick was half cleared to Kirkwood who hammered the ball home through a sea of legs.
Dartford would have felt aggrieved to have conceded after dominating the early stages as they had, but they could have no complaints about Kirkwood's second.
The midfield ace held off Osbourne before wrapping his foot round a shot from 18 yards which nestled in the far corner.
Dartford hit back swiftly, May tested Ruddy's reflexes before the visitors squared the scores again four minutes later.
Ryan Hayes tricked his way into the box and his near post ball was deflected into the path of Hafner, who smashed it into the roof of the net.
In what had turned into an open flowing game, Sackman and Duffield ran themselves into the ground to preserve the point, while White directed matters with authority.
Sampson, in charge due to manager John Suter's commitments with the Sussex side, commented: "The two in mid-field and at the back were terrific, White and Sackman were key for me. Tom is capable, he reads it ever so well."
Chances were traded at both ends, and YM had Woodburn to thank for a crucial sliding challenge on Eddie McClements.
The game appeared to be heading towards an exciting draw until four minutes before the end, when an innocuous foul prompted a manic 60 seconds.
Dartford defender Lew Watts talked himself into a sending off, and from the resulting set piece, Woodburn and Greenfield both had efforts scrambled away. When the ball was cleared, Garden pumped it back into the box and Osbourne handled as he jumped. Referee Lee Collins awarded the spot kick, which Garden thumped into.the roof of the net.
There was barely time to take stock before Dartford were attacking again - it took two fine stops from Ruddy to deny Hafner and Cass in the dying seconds to preserve the lead.
"Who cares if we deserved the win," Sampson said.
"If anything we deserved to win just because of who they are. It was desperate at the end, but I don't mind a bit of desperado defending."
Man of the Match:Tom White - excellent organisation
Magc Moment:Dean Ruddy's desperate double save to keep the lead intact.
YM (4-4-2): ): Ruddy; Garden, Woodburn, Hooper, Levett; Duffield, Sackman, White, Kirkwood; Greenfield, Massaro.