Match Report
FA Trophy: First Qualifying Round
 Horsham YMCA 1 Keehan 12 |  Canvey Island 3Gordon 3 Fanybuan 63 Curran 65 |
 Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
IT TOOK two well crafted goals to shake off a dogged Horsham YMCA as they slipped out of the FA Trophy at the hands of Canvey Island on Saturday.
YM reacted well to going a goal behind in the third minute but could do little about the enterprise and skill which brought the decisive two goals around the hour mark for the visitors.
For the patched up home team, the quality of performance and spirit was more important than progression in the competition. Manager John Suter said: "If I overview the game, we were their equal up until 63 minutes. There was nothing to choose between the two sides.
"We had an excellent chance to score just before half time and it could have been different if we had gone in at the break 2-1 up, but their two goals were quality finishes.
"I thought Canvey were lively but they were beatable at the back - overall the performance was acceptable and it was the first game since Chris May and Colin Jenkinson had gone, the performance was good."
The YM boss added: "We were undone by two bits of quality finishing, even though Dan Taylor at the end could have set • up a grandstand finish."
In a lively start, Seb Kazemi had already tried his luck from range for YM before Canvey went ahead in the third minute.
The rookie centre back pairing of Martyn Flack and Scott Bidwell, with just 20 minutes Ryman League experience between them, were exposed when Danny Curran skipped past Flack and scuffed his shot across goal. Alex Keaney was caught on his heels and Leon Gordon was able to scramble the ball home via the post.
YM maintained their composure, and Richard Greenfield was a threat with his pace - but the front man appeared reluctant to turn on the afterburners and once when he would have been clean through elected to cut inside onto his right foot and lost possession.
The hosts were level soon after though. Andy Ottley's ability from set pieces has been a plus for YM this season, and when his whipped ball was met by Joe Keehan's diving header they were level.
Greenfield was a constant worry for the Canvey defence on the break, but the Essex club had more quality in the final third. Craig Davidson and Gabriel Fanybuan went close, while Michael Death had possibly the best chance of the half when he was put through by Keehan but shot over. Both Ken Westoby in the YM goal and Canvey stopper Ricky Wiseman were called into action again before the end of the half and it was delicately poised at this stage.
Canvey were able to exert more pressure as the second half settled in, and on 63 minutes a moment of skill from Fanybuan opened YM up. Jinking down the right channel, he sold a dummy which both Ottley and Keaney bought before cutting inside and drilling a low shot across Westoby.
Two minutes later Canvey made it three when Fanybuan placed a lovely ball in behind the defence for Gordon to cross for Curran at the near post.
Suter was forced into changes at this point and found his team competing well, but Canvey did a-professional job of killing the game off. It could have been different though if Taylor hadn't dragged a shot wide from 18 yards with the goal at his mercy after Keehan challenged Wiseman, while Steve Davies might have done better from the edge of the box with his left foot.
Suter added: "If you get past the fact Alex Keaney and Andy Ottley bought the dummy, the second goal was a terrific finish, and the third was also quality. I wish we had scored a goal like that, but we tired mentally."
YM (4-4-2): ): Westoby; Garden (Taylor 66), Flack, Bidwell, Keaney; Duffield (Grant 66), Keehan, Kazemi, Ottley; Death (Davies 74), Greenfield.
Man of the match: : Martyn Flack - for the majority, you would never be able to tell he hadn't played above County League Division 2 before.
Magic moment: Andy Ottley's fizzing cross for Joe Keehan's goal.