Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2Kirkwood 27 Ottley 54 |
 Chatham Town 1Holder 21 |
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Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
THIS win went down as one for the walking wounded as Horsham YMCA literally hobbled to a tough 2-1 victory against Chatham Town on Saturday.
Although the hosts signed off their home campaign with three points, Glen Woodburn, Phil Fitzgerald, Jose Goncalves and Dean Garden played through the pain barrier to haul YM over the finish line while a calf injury accounted for Matt Duffield.
Scott Kirkwood cancelled out James Holder's lucky opener midway through the first half, and Andy Ottley netted the winner from a sweetly struck free kick after the break.
"That's a terrific result," manager John Suter remarked.
"I am so pleased, so much effort has gone into getting two teams out today, it's such a pleasing thing I couldn't be more delighted than I am today.
"It is a good win to sign off with at home, we have 58 points now, that is a lot. I have been writing down which teams can still catch us and I can tick more off now.
"To finish in the top half would be a fantastic achievement, ninth would be out of this world and llth would be very satisfying."
Short of options in defence, Suter played Fitzgerald in place of the suspended Ellis Hooper, alongside Woodburn, who has been struggling with a thigh injury for weeks.
It was his first game in that position of the season, but slotted in superbly with a commanding and committed aerial performance.
The platform offered by the back four allowed YM to make a real game of it from the early stages - belying their reputation as slow starters.
After just two minutes Steve Davies had a golden chance, Ottley's direct ball caused chaos. The striker gave chase, shrugged off his man and lobbed Chatham stopper John Whitehouse, but when the ball landed on the hard Gorings Mead surface, it looped over the bar to safety.
Chatham were vulnerable to the early ball, and after another fine pass from Ottley, Duffield should have done better when he elected to shoot with his right foot instead of swinging his left at it.
Holder was the focal point of Chatham's attacks and put a header over the bar after another unpredictable bounce.
The tall striker then made the breakthrough on 21 minutes.
Matt Russell jumped with Holder to clear a long throw in, but as he connected with the ball, it cannoned off the Chatham man's head and looped over Dean Ruddy -who looked convinced it was going over.
After going ahead, Chatham enjoyed their first spell of pressure, and Ruddy did well to clear Mark Brooks' cross from Shane Suter's path.
YM re-gathered themselves and struck a fine riposte. As the ball bobbled around on the edge of the box, Kirkwood took advantage of Robert Goodger's weak clearance and rifled a shot into the far corner.
Kirkwood could have had another moments later but screwed a volley wide after a fine three man move.
Davies went close with two good scoring opportunities as the hosts threatened to run riot before half time.
Woodburn surprisingly emerged for the second period, gamely playing on as Suter was loathed to push the impressive Russell to centre back - his only other option.
Nine minutes into the half and Ottley hit a free kick low and hard from 25 yards, which found a way around the wall and inside the near post.
A one goal lead does funny things, and the YM management were on tenterhooks for the rest of the game as the visitors tried to find a way back in, sometimes aided by sloppy defensive play.
Ruddy made solid, if unspectacular, saves from Suter and Tyran James as YM threatened to keel over. Substitute Goncalves limped on with a hamstring problem, Fitzgerald turned his ankle and Garden took a boot to the face.
In a frantic finale, Davies could have finished things off when Russell used the ball intelligently, his shot was blocked, but YM had enough to hold on for three points.
"I thought we had so many good performances," Suter said.
"It could have been one of three players to win the man of the match award. For example Fitzy [Fitzgerald] really gave 100 per cent, you have to take your hat off to people like that."
Man of the match: Phil Fitzgerald - could not have given more for the cause
Magic moment: Andy Ottley's free kick, which strictly shouldn't have been allowed to go in
YM (4-4-2): Ruddy; Garden, Woodburn, Fitzgerald, Ottley; Duffield (Goncalves 43), Taylor (Grant 75), White, Kirkwood; Russell, Davies.