Match Report
FA Cup: Preliminary Qualifying Round
 Horsham YMCA 4 |  Chessington & Hook 1 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA marched into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory at home to Chessington & Hook.
They gained revenge after Chessington sent them crashing out of the FA Vase last term, but YM were the more clinical team on Saturday.
An Andy Ottley free-kick put the hosts in front early on but two goals just before half time effectively killed the game off as Mithun Nayee netted his first for the club and Dean Carden slotted home a penalty.
Steve Davies hit the fourth before Philip Page scored a consolation for the visitors.
"It wasn't good as a performance, they (Chessington & Hook) weren't good as a team but had some good individual players," commented manager John Suter. "But the result is the all important thing."
YM started slowly as the visitors were the sharper side but the pacey Leroy Brownford shot straight at Chris May.
The dangerous Daniel Bennett forced the keeper into action again but at the other end Matt Percival tested the Chessington keeper and YM took the lead in the 15th minute.
Steve Davies was brought down just outside the box and Ottley curled the free-kick around a poorly constructed wall and into the bottom corner.
Hesitant defending from the hosts resulted in Neil Wicks going through but his effort hit May and bounced away for a corner.
Gavin Quintin and Brownford linked up well but the former was denied by May before YM missed a golden chance to double their advantage.
Ottley's free-kick hit Matt Russell - who had another really impressive game at centre back - but from the edge of the six yard box he wasn't able to get his shot away with the goal gaping.
However, YM did make it two in the 45th minute, another Ottley free-kick was turned round the post by Daniel Burnett for a corner which was drilled in and Davies and Russell both missed it but Nayee was on hand to poke it home.
In injury time at the end of the first half Percival was brought down in the area and Garden stepped up to despatch the penalty.
Suter remarked: "Suddenly they've played well and they are 3-0 down, it was game over."
A couple of minutes after the restart Garden surged forward, his shot was parried but Davies finished the rebound to make it 4-0.
"We had a purple patch just before and after half time," the manager said.
Page pulled one back on the hour mark after he latched on to a short back pass from Glen Woodburn and rounded the keeper. Dan Taylor headed a good chance wide but the game petered out after that and YM lined up a first qualifying round clash at Folkestone Invicta.
"The FA Cup is terrific, we had one marvellous year," said Suter about their run in 99/00. "We came within a gnat's whisker of playing Oldham, we lost 3-2 to Chelmsford in the fourth qualifying round. ,
"The whole place was buzzing. Sky TV were down doing interviews. It was all over the radio and newspapers. It was absolutely marvellous, we still talk about it now. It gave you tingles down the back of your neck. "It would be nice to do it again, but it's much more difficult nowadays."
YM (4-4-2): May; Garden, Woodburn, Russell, Ottley; Percival (Duffield 68), White, Simpson (Keehan 55), Taylor; Nayee (Duffield 68), Davies.