Match Report
Ryman league: Division One South
 Whyteleafe 3 Greaves 20,70 Clayton 66 (pen) |  Horsham YMCA 0 |
| Source: Steve Payne, West Sussex County Times |
A LACK of firepower up front left Horsham YMCA pointless after their trip to mid-table Whyteleafe on Saturday.
And to round off a miserable day, keeper Alan Mansfield was stretchered off just before half-time after colliding with a post.
The squad had been weakened as Dean Garden (suspended) and Ali Russell (family commitments) were ruled out.
However, early on it looked as if it might be YM's day as they survived a first-minute attack which brought out a superb save from Mansfield and then the home side had a strong penalty shout turned down.
In fact the referee appeared to be the only one in the ground who didn't think Philip Fitzgerald's clumsy tackle was worthy of a spot-kick.
Whyteleafe went ahead after 20 minutes when the lively Joel Greaves out-jumped his marker at the far post to head in.
Three minutes before the break and Mansfield's momentum in making a save brought him into contact with the post.
Martyn Flack took over and performed well, pulling off some good saves.
But with no one to hold on to the ball up front, the traffic became more one-way as the second half progressed.
Early on, though, Whyteleafe made plenty of errors which gave the visitors some hope.
But the gulf between the sides was finally turned into goals with Greaves having a hand in both.
It was his positive run after 66 minutes that was cut short by Matt Russell who brought him down for a penalty which Sam Clayton converted, despite Flack getting a hand to it.
Then, four minutes later, Greaves made a solo run and tucked the ball away with the defence floundering.
Perhaps the best summary of the match was the fact that YM's one proper shot on target finally came with four minutes to go as Richard Greenfield fired straight at the keeper.
YM boss John Suter was unhappy that the first goal was allowed to stand claiming there was pushing in the box, and admitted there was little chance of a comeback after Mansfield was injured.
"There were a few question marks about the goal.," he said.
"Andy Lutwyche was pushed in the back and Alan Mansfield had his shirt grabbed as he went for the ball, but these things happen in football.
"Losing Alan in goal was a big blow, although Martyn Rack did well and got a hand to the penalty."
Suter said that although he was disappointed with the result, he was happy with the overall performance.
He added: "The team gave 100 per cent and I felt we worked hard but unfortunately it was for nothing.
"We didn't do enough to score goals which is the same old story."
Man of the Match: : Martyn Flack. Stand-in keeper was unfazed by his tough task.
Magic Moment: Magical let-off. Blatant penalty as Fitzgerald tackled Clayton from behind but the referee was the only one who thought otherwise.
Teams: YM (4-4-2): Mansfield (Flack 42); Woodburn, Keaney, Lutwyche, Fitzgerald (Harding 71); White, Pearce, Greenfield, Grant, Palmer (Salim 77), M. Russell.