Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South Cup
 Horsham YMCA 2 Ottley 28, Russell 59 |
 Walton Casuals 1 Pinnock 6 |
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Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
A BIZARRE goal from Matt Russell gave Horsham YMCA a 2-1 victory over Walton Casuals on Tuesday night.
The side from Surrey started as brightly as their orange shirts and deservedly went in front through Sol Pinnock in the sixth minute.
Walton could have been three up before a sluggish YM got back into the game midway through the first half when Andy Ottley fired home after good work by Steve Davies.
Just before the hour mark YM won a corner that Dean Garden played into the near post where the keeper Matt Reed fumbled the ball on the back of Russell's head and it trickled over the line.
The striker knew nothing about it but it proved to be the winner as the hosts hung on at the death.
"I'm very happy with the result," said manager John Suter. "It was a good three points that never looked on, particularly in the first 20 minutes when they took us apart."
"Partly because they are a good side with good players but also because we didn't play very well in that first 20 minutes. We were all over the place and they could have been 3-0 up but we survived it and got back into the game."
Walton could have taken the lead in the opening few minutes when Craig Carney went through, he was driven wide by Dean Ruddy and shot into the side netting.
YM were not so fortunate three minutes later when again they got in behind and this time Pinnock made no mistake, firing across the keeper into the far corner.
The visitors' early pressure nearly resulted in a second but Carney's low drive was well blocked by Ruddy.
At the other end, the hosts went agonisingly close when Scott Kirkwood delivered a great free kick that Russell glanced off the inside of the post and it was hacked to safety as the ball rolled across the line.
YM were beginning to get into the game as the half wore on and when a free kick was cleared to Ottley he hit a beauty from outside the box that Reed brilliantly clawed away for a corner.
However Scott Harris was pulling the strings for Walton and John Ambridge got on the end of his lovely through ball but Ruddy saved.
The equaliser came in the 28th minute when Pat Massaro and Russell linked up, the latter did well to keep it in and found Davies who drove to the byline, his cross fell for Ottley to smash past Reed.
Pinnock carried on causing problems and was denied by Ruddy rushing off his line then just before half time he showed excellent vision, having robbed Ellis Hooper he shot first time from 40 yards over the keeper but it just went wide.
The second half started off evenly but the hosts took the lead in the 59th minute when the keeping error saw Russell claim the goal.
Moments later, Harris petulantly launched a spare ball into the spectators after two were on the pitch by mistake, something which Tommy Sampson took exception to as the game got more heated.
Walton, in need of points at the wrong end of the table, went in search of an equaliser and put YM under pressure, especially in the last five minutes or so.
Jermaine Hinds and Anthony Gale went close from corners but their best chance came in the 92nd minute when a snap shot from Harris flew over from ten yards out.
Suter commented: "They will go away feeling a bit unfortunate not to take anything with them, I think a point would have been fair.
"But I'm not going to knock that, 54 points this season, I'm well pleased.
"As a side we worked a lot harder after the first 20 minutes, we dug in and we battled. I do think they play some good football and have some good players.
"But it is true, when you are down there and struggling for points things don't go for you and I don't think a lot went for them today."
"Fifty four points is what I keep thinking, it's terrific to get a result like that. You have to remember we were without Woody [Glen Woodburn], Jose [Goncalves], Matt Duffield and Dan Sackman. We had good players who were unavailable."
Man of the Match: Scott Kirkwood - tried to get YM going in the middle of the park.
Magic moment: Steve Davies' determined drive to the byline before he crossed for Andy Ottley to score.
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Hooper, Lovegroye, Levett; Davies, White, Kirkwood (Taylor 76), Ottley; Massaro (Greenfield 74), Russell.