Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Leatherhead 1 |
 Horsham YMCA 3 |
|
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
A DOUBLE strike from Scott Kirkwood prolonged Horsham YMCA's remarkable away record in a 3-1 win at Leatherhead.
YM boast the second best away record in Division 1 South, behind Maidstone with 30 points from 15 games away from Gorings Mead.
Goals from Kirkwood and Glen1 Woodburn continued the good form on the road, which stretches back to their last away defeat at Dartford on November 11.
The win also gives YM a positive goal difference for the first time this campaign.
Delighted manager John Suter said: "The pitch suited us more then it suited them, Leatherhead are a good footballing side, I mean they reached the FA Cup first round proper. It was a tough pitch in places.
"To go there and get a win is great, especially after they beat us 3-0 at our place.
"One of their players, Stewart Holmes, remarked on how much we had turned it around.
"The difference is that we were a County League side when we came into the Ryman League, and it took us quite a while to adjust, I think now we are a genuine Ryman team and we look like one. We have made strong additions to the playing staff which have all been good for us, if you look at the side at the start of the season, now there is a lot of difference.
"We have adapted and now look and perform like a Ryman league side."
A result like this looked unlikely after the opening exchanges, where Leatherhead could easily have been two goals to the good. Striker Dave Stevens put a great chance into the side netting after a cross evaded Dean Garden, and YM stopper Dean Ruddy did well to turn the ball round the post after faced with a one on one with Gavin Bolger. Steve Sargent then drilled a shot narrowly over from the resultant corner as YM were rocking.
But the away side have shown plenty of quality and determination in tight spots this season and gave the first glimpse of what was to come when Jose Goncalves just failed to find Matt Russell with a through ball.
Goncalves, who netted on his debut in the 3-2 win against Whyteleafe last week, started to terrorise the Tanners defence and crossed for Kirkwood to head just wide -albeit from an offside position.
Leatherhead had been served notice of YM's ambitions, and Kirkwood delivered. The winger-turned-front-man battled for possession as he ran across the top of the box, before some neat interplay between Goncalves, Tom White and Dan Sackman allowed Kirkwood a one on one chance and he made no mistake, clipping it over the keeper.
But YM were forced to defend their one goal lead as the seconds ticked by to half time, Woodburn made a vital headed interception, Sargent's cross/shot flashed past the post and James Greenaway just mistimed his leap in front of goal and failed to connect with a header.
Early in the second period though, YM nerves were settled when Kirkwood turned provider with a good free kick which Woodburn flicked home with his head.
Moments later, the visitors wasted a great chance to put the game to bed when Matt Duffield headed Ellis Hooper's cross wide.
And thev were almost made to pay when Leatherhead laid siege to YM goal in a desperate scramble after Dean Carpenter's wicked cross. Woodburn threw himself in front of one shot and Nick Levett did well to clear off the line.
The hosts did give themselves hope though, when lain Hendry thumped home an emphatic header which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar on 71 minutes.
At 2-1, everyone in the ground expected the away side to be on the back foot, but four minutes later the two goal advantage was restored.
Goncalves picked up Sackman's ball and turned on the afterburners to beat his man and crossed accurately for Kirkwood to nod in from six yards.
"Having got back into it, and have that hope taken away must have been so depressing for them," Suter said. and substitute Pat Massaro could have made it four, but Paul Borg made a good full length save to keep out his free kick.
Suter added: "I think Jose Goncalves will be an asset for us, he is quick, I'm quite excited.
"He offers an outlet ball and players in my side have picked up on that."
YM's form has picked up again and ihe Gorings Mead side are now on course for a top ten finish, ahead of some of non league football's more illustrious names.
"If we win our games in hand we can go above Dover and just a point behind Fleet," Suter said.
"Just imagine if our home record was a good as away."
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Woodburn, Hooper, Levett; Duffield, White, Sackman, Goncalves (Massaro 78); Russell (Davies 83), Kirkwood