Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Walton Casuals 2Gale 55 (pen) Frost 60 |  Horsham YMCA 2 Keehan 21, 52 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
IT HAS been an almost unbearably tough week for John Suter, so the YM boss was delighted to earn a gritty point at Walton Casuals on Tuesday night - but it could have been all three.
Suter has angered other Sussex managers, seen three players defect to local rivals, lost assistant coach Colin Jenkinson, and lost at home to nine man Chipstead in the last ten days.
So, when YM dug their heels in against Walton to secure a 2-2 draw, Suter was understandably thrilled.
Two goals Joe Keehan had given Horsham YMCA a 2-0 lead with strikes either side of half time, but the Casuals struck back through an Antony Gale penalty and Elliott Frost's sliding effort.
"I was happy to hang on," Suter commented.
"Being 2-0 up does not guarantee anything. In truth we could have lost it but had the chances to win it too.
"The penalty was the changing point, but that is our first away point and I'm happy with that."
It wasn't a match for the purists with both sides languishing at the wrong end of Ryman League Division 1 South, and for a while in the second half, the ball clocked up some serious air miles.
Michael Death threatened early for YM and Greg Ball and Shaun McAuley for the hosts.
Keehan broke through on 21 minutes when Andy Ottley skinned Adam Kent and when Jupp could only parry his cross/shot Keehan was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
Walton had the greater ambition going forward however and their range of passing stretched YM. McAuley and Frost continued to threaten, but it was Aaron Bennett who forced a fine reaction save from Ken Westoby.
Keehan grabbed his second to double YM's lead on 52 minutes, latching into Death's flick on to fire home.
But it wasn't all plain sailing as Walton's response was swift.
Three minutes later Gale was felled by Dean Garden and lashed home the penalty off the underside of the bar. And on the hour mark Walton were level, Gale was given space to maraud down the left before squaring to Frost who levelled. Richard Greenfield, Steve Davies and Joe Keehan, with a shot off the post, had chances to nick it, but YM were happy with a point.
YM (4-4-2): ): Westoby; Garden, Woodburn (Flack 72), White, Keaney; Duffield, Keehan, Kazemi, Ottley; Davies, Death (Greenfield 62).
Man of the match: Joe Keehan - in the right place at the right time, twice.
Magic moment: Andy Ottley tying the Casuals defence up in knots.