Match Report
Ryman league: Division One South
 Walton & Hersham 1Jenkins 10 |  Horsham YMCA 1 A Russell 7 |
Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times
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A VALUABLE point was picked up by Horsham YMCA with a 1-1 draw at Walton & Hersham.
The visitors took an early lead when James Grant cut inside and his tame shot was pushed into the path of Ali Russell who had a simple tap in.
But it didn't last long as Will Jenkins planted a powerful header beyond Alan Mansfield's despairing dive.
YM went close through Ali Russell and Grant but were forced back after the break as neither side deserved to lose in conditions that were not conducive to football.
"I was pleased with a point to be honest," said manager John Suter. "I thought it was a pretty dreadful game."
YM went in front in the seventh minute when Glen Woodburn - playing on the right wing again - spread the play to Grant who ran at the defence but didn't get hold of his shot, however, Rob Webb went down in laboured fashion and just touched it to Ali Russell to finish.
A needless corner was given away by YM, it was played short to Tomnio Carter and he whipped in a cross to Jenkins who gave the keeper no chance to level.
The bobbily pitch foiled Jon Neale and Charles Adeyemi when they could have been through for the hosts before YM missed a good chance to go back in front. Ali Russell rose highest at the far post but glanced the ball wide.
Grant latched on to a loose ball in midfield, ran at the defence before unleashing a powerful shot from 20 yards that hit the bar and went over.
On the stroke of half time YM spurned their best opportunity when Adam Jupp did well to rob Aaron Nowacki and drove forwards, timed the pass well to Ali Russell but with just Webb to beat, the keeper made a smart save.
Walton forced YM back after the break with conditions in their favour, however, they only really threatened once as Andy Lutwyche and Matt Russell were superb at the back.
Although the YM goal led a charmed life in the I 58th minute - a free-kick k fell to the dangerous Julien Thompson who smacked . the underside of the bar from six yards, Matt Russell blocked Nowacki's header off the line and from the rebound Mansfield saved Jenkins' shot.
Walton applied pressure and threw big central defender Jenkins up front i in the dying minutes but when he headed off target then; chance had gone.
"If someone had have said to me you would get four points out of our last two games I would have thought we would have done very well," remarked Suter. "Sittingbourne away and Walton away are very difficult."
Man of the Match: : James Grant - an industrious display from the midfielder.
Magic Moment: The cracking shot from Grant that clipped the bar.
Teams: YM (4-4-2): Mansfield; Garden, Lutwyche, M Russell, Keaney; Woodburn, White, Pearce, Grant; Jupp (Duffield 64, Palmer 90), A Russell.
