YM warned of second season peril by Suter

17 August 2007

HORSHAM YMCA boss John Suter is wary of 'second season syndrome' as he prepares his troops for a tough opening to their Ryman Division 1 South campaign Last season was a huge success for YM as they finished ninth having made the step up from the County League with aplomb. Suter commented: "Come this season no-one will take us lightly anymore and we will have what is commonly known as second season syndrome. "I think following last year when nobody expected too much of us and we surpassed expectations -1 think we were relegation candidates at the beginning of the season - finishing ninth exceeded our wildest expectations and that could be a millstone around our neck." The Gorings Mead supremo is targeting survival yet again. "The first requirement is to get enough points to avoid relegation," he said. "That may seem negative but even the teams that win the league need enough points to avoid relegation, then you kick on from there. Depending how quickly you get your points to avoid relegation is what you can do after that." YM have been handed a very difficult start to the season as .they host Dover Athletic tomorrow (Saturday) and then travel to Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday before going to Kingstonian a week Saturday. "We've got a difficult start, Dover at home first and they are the favourites by a mile to win the league, Andy Hessenthaler is their manager and they've got a number of good players with league football experience," remarked Suter. "But it's a day we are going to look forward to." YM have lost their goalkeeper Dean Ruddy to Dover bur he has been replaced by quality in the form of Chris May, and their other big loss was Scott Kirkwood who went to Hastings, but again they have managed to get quality in to replace him, Joe Keehan and young Dan Taylor has impressed in pre-season. Suter added: "We've kept most of last year's squad and we've added to it as well." He remarked: "Other teams can attract first year pros and pay half their wages, afford people who have come down from league football. "But we've got Chris May and' Joe Keehan, they've played a high standard of football. When you think that Chris May has played in Brighton's first team against Nottingham Forest - that's quite an achievement. "Joe Keehan has played Conference football and it's smashing that people like that come without any great demands but come and accept what the financial regime is here. "He's a good player that likes to get forward and should be a good foil for Tom White. "What we have to do is make sure we get our act together here on Saturday, you couldn't have a more difficult fixture." Dover boast former Watford and Gillingham man Andy Hessenthaler, and John Wallace, who turned down overtures from League clubs to stay at The Grabble. One to watch: Joe Keehan - exciting new signing with Conference experience.