Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Maidstone United 1 Ahwan 70 |
 Horsham YMCA 0 |
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| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA boss John Suter praised his side's battling qualities after one of the sternest physical tests they have experienced this season.
Table topping Maidstone United were formidable and uncompromising opponents, but despite dominating from start to finish, found YM determined to defend their goal in terrier-like fashion.
Imposing midfielder Errison Ahwan thumped home a header with 20 minutes remaining to break the deadlock, the one flash of quality in a turgid affair affected by high winds and a bouncy pitch.
"It was a performance from my team which was something to be proud of," said Suter.
"We defended everything we had to defend, and but for that moment of quality it could have been a point.
"We really did work hard, even though we would not have deserved it on the balance of play, but I think we would have deserved it for our performance."
On the back foot from the opening of a disjointed first half, the visitors' first scare came after eight minutes when Mo Takaloo, brother of WBU welterweight boxing champion Mehrdud Takaloo, turned and shot from the edge of the box.
While YM were struggling to build through the midfield, Maidstone displayed some neat touches in their approach play, without finding the final ball. And as the pressure started to build, YM found it increasingly difficult to clear their lines.
Another decisive factor was the state of the pitch - Maidstone's ground sharing arrangement with Sittingbourne was starting to take its toll on the surface which had almost as much bounce as a trampoline as the ball spent more time in the air than on the deck.
While YM struggled to control the ball, the hosts always appeared to have more time and a little more composure.
Ahwan sent a 30-yard dipping half volley over Dean Ruddy's bar and the keeper palmed away Sam , Tydeman's effort, but apart from that, the defence was doing its job.
The Gorings Mead outfit did have their moments however, Steve Davies was a hair's breadth away from connecting with a Scott Kirkwood cross and Dan Sackman dug out a shot when Kirkwood miscued on the edge of the box.
But it was YM who were glad to hear the half time whistle, Dean Garden was being targeted by Simon Austin as United went in search of the opener.
It was going to take either a disaster or something special to break YM down, and a slip from Hooper nearly allowed that to happen.
Lyndon Rowland almost profited but his snap shot was saved Ruddy's outstretched left boot.
For all their huffing and puffing, Maidstone had created few clear cut chances - a fact which must have been rammed home during the interval because at the start of the second period, YM were faced with a cavalry charge of yellow shirts. Takaloo almost went through when he nicked the ball off the otherwise impressive Tom White's toes.
All YM could do was defend, Glen Woodburn marshalled the defence well, but nobody got the ball down and played - clearances fell in the general direction of Davies and Matt Russell but neither were a match for the powerful Mario McNish.
Takaloo tested Ruddy with a looping shot which had him backpeddling and should have scored when the YM stopper saved from Alex Tiesse.
The goal, and moment of class, finally came when Craig Roser's precision left wing cross was met with a full blooded header from Ahwan on 70 minutes.
YM responded by throwing Richard Greenfield on to support the front two and allowing Kirkwood to roam, a move which almost bore fruit when Davies just failed to get on the end of some good work from the midfielder.
Man of the match: Glen Woodburn - gave his all at the heart of the YM defence.
Magic moment: When Steve Davis and Scott Kirkwood combined at the death to give Maidstone a scare.
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Hooper, Woodburn, Levett; Duffield (Greenfield 76), White, Sackman, Kirkwood; Russell, Davies.