Match Report
Pre Season Friendly
 Horsham Town 3 |  Horsham YMCA 1 |
 Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
A FIERCELY contested friendly proved to be a good work out for both Horsham and Horsham YMCA on Tuesday evening.
The Hornets came out on top in the end but they were forced to work hard for their 3-1 triumph.
YM started positively and went ahead through Steve Davies but John Westcott equalised before half time.
After the break, Tom Graves then an absolute cracker from Lee Carney wrapped up the win for the hosts.
Both managers came away with positives from the match. Hornets supremo John Maggs said: "Well, it was a good work out for us.
"All credit must go to YM and John Suter. They came out of the traps quicker than us, sharper than us and they did quite well.
"I think we probably only played about ten minutes football in the first half and I'm disappointed with that."
However, he was happy with the second half turn around.
"In the second half I thought we took over, controlled it and I think think the quality of the players I had on the pitch came out "on top in the end," remarked Maggs.
"It was a great goal by Lee Carney, good move and great strike. Even our first goal was a good move.
"Lee Carney was outstanding, the boy Yinka [Salaam] when he came on looked controlled, he didn't give anything away, plays it sensible, easy and sensible.
"The result was alright but I'm disappointed with the first 25 minutes of the game. We have got to learn from that," insisted the Horsham boss.
His opposite number John Suter commented: "I thought it was a very good work out, for both sides.
"I'm very pleased with the first half performance, thought we started on the front foot, played in their half for the first ten-15 minutes.
"I was impressed, thought we put them on the back foot, whether we caught them cold or not I don't know but we certainly put them on the back foot.
"But the injuries didn't do us any good, I'm not making excuses, but losing men before the game was a blow, it meant we didn't have as much depth as I'd like, then losing Ellis [Hooper] and Dan Taylor before half time.
"There were only two subs in the second half that I could really bring on," he added.
"That was the difference in the second half, they keep the ball better because they are fitter and they are good passers of the ball, they have good control of the ball.
"And they are physically fit which enables them to make good decisions, that was what undone us and we gave it away far too much because we tired," said the YM manager.
"We went one dimensional, when you tire you just want to get the ball forward. Having said all that, it was a super work out and it was a good work out for Horsham."
Suter added: "I think we probably surprised them a little bit."
The visitors should have scored with the first meaningful attack of the game in the second minute, the impressive Dan Taylor dangerously cut inside and the ball was latched on to by Joe Keehan who burst into the box but as he was tackled the ball went inches wide.
Ellis Hooper limped off with a knee injury and could be out for a couple of weeks which is a blow for YM.
However, they deservedly took the lead moments later when Richard Greenfield crossed for Davies to head home in the 14th minute.
Chamal Fenelon only showed glimpses of what he is capable of but Horsham fans can expect more when he is 100 per cent fit, a pile driver from the new striker was well parried by Chris May.
Horsham began to come into the game and were rewarded with an equaliser just after the half hour mark when a cross to the far post was headed into the danger area by Carney and Westcott stooped to nod home a simple chance.
Davies dragged a shot across Alan Mansfield's goal and at the other end Graves and Brake both headed over.
Horsham started the second half with more purpose and three minutes into it Graves poked them ahead.
A lead which was nearly short lived but for Mansfield coming out quickly to thwart Davies.
However, Tom Rand - who came on for May at the interval - made a fine save low down to his right to deny Carl Rook with a bullet header.
The Horsham striker made a welcome return to action after a hamstring injury.
It was not until the 75th minute that the result was settled, despite Horsham having the better after the break, Yinka Salaam played the ball inside after a good move by the hosts and a peach of a shot from Carney went into the top corner via the underside of the bar.
Horsham: Mansfield; Graves (Salaam 54), French (Howard 45), Hemsley, Brake; Wescott (Geard 54), Taylor (Westcott 64), Mingle, Carney; Farrell, (Rook 45), Fenelon. YM: May (Rand 45), Garden, Hooper (Joyce 13), Woodburn, Heaney (Fitzgerald 45); Taylor (Death 41), White, Keehan (Simpson 56), Ottley; Davies, Greenfield.