Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Croydon Athletic 1 |  Horsham YMCA 2 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA secured their first away win of the season, holding off a late Croydon Athletic charge to win 2-1 on Tuesday evening.br>
Greg Palmer and Joe Keehan netted to lift YM up to third from bottom, and although Liam Shirley pulled one back for the hosts, Suter's men were able to hold on.
YM enjoyed the first chance, Palmer's header found James Grant and his lob looked goalbound until defender Richard Blackwell cleared the danger off the line.
The Gorings Mead side only had to wait 22 minutes for the first goal though.
Starting in the right back area, Andy Ottley exchanged passes with Keehan before delivering a raking crossfield pass for Grant, who switched play back inside for Palmer to rifle home from 12 yards.
Stung by the goal, Croydon increased the tempo and combined with YM's inability to keep hold of the ball, it made for an exciting contest.
The biggest threat so far to YM's lead came when Luke Adams skipped round Martyn Flack's lunge and squared for Martin Debrah, his shot cannoned off the bar and stopper Chris Winterton produced a terrific reaction save to keep out Douglas' follow up.
YM made a positive si to the second half, and went 2-0 up in the 51st minute. The impressive Palmer won the ball and combined with Matt Simpson to tee up Keehan, who patiently waited for an opening to slot home a shot which keeper Sam Mott could only get a hand to.
Just after the hour, the home side were back in it -Liam Shirley strode through the centre and smashed home a 20 yard shot.
The Croydon pressure was starting to intensify in their search for an equaliser, but Richard Greenfield had a golden opportunity to release it. The substitute raced into a one on one with Mott but blazed his effort over the bar, shortly after that, the same player beat three men, then fired over.
Croydon midfielder Gareth Graham was pulling all the strings for the home side as they threw everything but the kitchen sink at YM, and his corner was headed over by Blackwell deep into injury time.
"It's an invaluable three points," manager John Suter said.
"We gave away a two goal lead at Walton but were able to hang on to it this time.
"I hope there is more confidence, but it does not show sometimes in our play," he added. "The side is more settled now and more consistent."
Horsham YMCA: Winterton; Flack (Garden 67), Russell, White, Keaney; Ottley, Grant, Simpson, Keehan; Lyons (Greenfield 62), Palmer.
