Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2 Kirkwood 30 Russell 90 |
 Kingstonian 3Goggin 29 Traynor 63 Drewitt 74 |
|
|
Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
TWO SLOPPY second half goals cost Horsham YMCA as they slumped to 3-2 defeat to a resurgent Kingstonian on Tuesday night.
Under new management, the Ks have now taken seven points from nine games to improve their lower mid-table position, and YM were on the receiving end this time.
A first half strike from Scott Kirkwood and a last minute effort from Matt Russell were not enough to earn a point after Pat Massaro's misplaced pass allowed Rob Traynor to score the visitors' second, and the defence was slow to deal with an innocuous cross for Gary Drewitt to net.
Manager John Suter said: "The second goal was the killer and to give away a third rubbed salt in the wounds.
"With that goal, 99 times out of 100 we would have dealt with it comfortably."
YM started with all the fire of the freezing cold evening air, allowing their visitors to dictate the pace from the first whistle. Passes went astray and tackles were missed -Suter's troops were just not at the races.
"They played quite well and set off at a great pace," Suter commented.
"I wanted to put them on the back foot, but they did it to us.
"In the first 25 minutes we were all over the place."
Wes Goggin was controlling the match, leading numerous raids down the Kingstonian left in the opening quarter. Before the visitors went ahead, Danny Summer shot into the side netting when well placed as the pressure built.
And it was Goggin who netted the first goal, Summer cushioned a high ball into his path and he required two attempts to get his shot past Dean Ruddy.
Ironically, in the moments before the goal, YM had started to gain a foothold in the match. Luke Garrard had to tip over a Dean Garden cross after good work by Richard Greenfield, and the pacy winger miskicked in front of goal from Kirkwood's pass.
Suter then pushed Greenfield forward to form a front three with Massaro and Russell, a move which stemmed the Kingstonian flow.
Greenfield won a corner off Simon Sobiny, when the ball came in Russell knocked a clever short reverse pass to Dan Sackman, whose shot thumped into the far post, thankfully for YM, the rebound fell to Kirkwood six yards out and he made no mistake.
Ruddy expertly turned Summer's curling shot round the post at the start of the second period, and YM were struggling to pick up the second balls - when they did win it, not many passes found their target.
Just after the hour mark, in a bid-to help his midfield out, Massaro dropped to the edge of his area and won the ball. But rather than clearing his lines he attempted to give it to Glen Woodburn, the pass was short and Traynor nipped in to finish with aplomb.
"It was a poor goal to give away," Suter mused.
"I don't want to criticise Pat, he worked so hard to get back and as a forward he wanted to play it rather than thump it upfield."
YM had lost their shape and were on the rack, their passing went all over the place, and ten minutes later a slick Kingstonian passing move extended the lead.
The move swept across the pitch and was shipped out to Traynor on the left flank, his simple cross was met by Drewitt, who along with Goggin, contrived to bundle the ball home.
Although YM were left wondering why the ball was not dealt with.
Rattled, YM tried to up the tempo, Kirkwood ran his socks off despite a nasty kick to the calf.
Hope for a revival flickered briefly when substitute Steve Davies poked a pass to Russell inside the box and the marksman just managed to force the ball over the line in the last minute, but it was too little too late.
Man of the Match:Scott Kirkwood - ran himself into the ground for the cause.
Magc Moment:Dan Sackman's shot packed a punch and deserved a goal.
YM (4-4-2): ): Ruddy; Garden, Woodburn, Hooper, Levett; Greenfield, Sackman (Shoefield 85), White, Kirkwood; Russell, Massaro (Davies 66).