Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2 Death 20 Francis(og) 38 |  Eastbourne Town 1 Baitup 12 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
IT TOOK Horsham YMCA four games to register a win last season, so it was fitting to take three points from their fourth this year.
A header from Michael Death and and own goal by Charlie Francis saw YM claim a 2-1 home win against County League champions Eastbourne Town on Tuesday night.
Coming on the back of three straight defeats, the points were a welcome boost for manager John Suter.
He said: "The difference between played four lost four and three points from this game is a massive psychological one. It's big to have won a game.
"There was a lot of effort from both sides and it was not a game for the purists but the performance was not as important as the result."
YM looked more like the newly promoted side as they made a nervy start to the game. Eastbourne came out of the traps well with strikers Liam Baitup and Steve Dallaway looking to exploit any space the home defence might have left in behind.
And it was Baitup who struck the first blow on 12 minutes. A sustained period of Eastbourne pressure led to YM failing to clear their lines from a corner, Luke Dewton swung a cross towards the far post where the striker pounced and drilled a low left footed shot across Chris May into the far corner.
YM responded and Andy Ottley summed up an all action performance from left back when he carried the ball across the width of the pitch, exchanged passes with Dean Garden and crossed deep for Death to head home at the far post.
YM didn't have to wait long before theii: second, and winning, goal.
An inswingihg Ottley free kick from the left wing just missed target Steve Davies, and struck the outstretched boot of unfortunate full back Francis who put through his own net.
Going into the break one up, YM failed to capitalise on their lead in the second half.
Davies worked hard, but his partnership with Death needs work as the pair often found themselves running after the same balls and getting in each other's way.
At the other end, Matt Aldred caused a problem down the right wing, but converted centre back Matt Russell was not fazed as the striker turned in a composed performance.
Ottley produced a brief spark when he fizzed a 30 yard effort just wide of the left upright but there was little to shout about in either penalty area.
Eastbourne applied a little pressure as the match drifted to a conclusion with substitute John Piercy pulling the strings from midfield, and Dallaway stung May's hands late on, but that was all the YM keeper had to do.
YM (4-4-2): May; Garden,Woodburn, Russell, Ottley; Goncalves (Duffield 45), Keehan, White, Taylor (Simpson 89); Death (Percival 79), Davies.
Man of the match: Andy Ottley - was full of running and supported attacks whenever he could.
Magic moment: Ottley's long range effort which flashed just wide mid way through the second half.
