Match Report
Ryman league: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2 Foreman 44 Palmer 57 |  Kingstonian 3 Traynor 13 (pen), 73 (pen) Cartwright 62 |
Source: Steve Pickthall, West Sussex County Times
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IN FREEZING conditions Horsham YMCA's slim chances of avoiding the drop were put on ice despite a gritty performance on Easter Saturday.
The hosts battled back after going behind to a dubious penalty to lead with goals either side of half time from Matt Foreman and Greg Palmer, but Kingstonian finished the stronger to run out 3-2 winners.
In the first half the strong swirling wind was with YM but both sides had to contend with a wintry mix of rain and at times heavy snow, and it was the home side who settled into the game the quicker.
Richard Greenfield playing on the right wing showed good pace in the opening minutes and was unlucky not to get round his defender before Tom White's free kick came back to him for the midfielder to shoot over.
The opening goal came on 13 minutes in contentious circumstances.
Phil Fitzgerald first gave away a free kick, upending winger David Suchy as he burst down the right, and then fouled the same man in the box as the resulting set piece was floated in.
The decision seemed soft and striker Bobby Traynor stepped up to give Kingstonian the lead.
Buoyed by the goal it looked like the visitors would add to their lead as they started to use their pace down both flanks in the form of Suchy and the excellent Dean Lodge.
Kingstonian came close when Simon Huckle's header across goal landed inches wide, but as chances went begging. YM began to work themselves back into the game with Palmer working tirelessly upfront.
James Grant and Glen Woodburn came close before the host's efforts were rewarded a minute before half time.
Darren Pearce got his free kick up and over the wall from just outside the box for the keeper to parry into the path of Foreman to level the scores at the break.
It was the same case of missed chances for Kingstonian at the start of the second half, Traynor twice shooting wide in two minutes.
Against the run of play YM took the lead, a ball in from the right was flicked on superbly by Grant finding Palmer in acres of space to finish coolly in the bottom right on 57 minutes.
It was a goal the striker deserved after a hard working display, but YM's lead only lasted little over five minutes, substitute Gavin Cartwright powering a header in from a corner with his first touch of the game.
YM then survived two strong penalty appeals before the referee finally pointed to the spot, Lodge beating one defender before his penetrating run was halted by a miss timed challenge from Woodburn, Traynor again converting from twelve yards.
YM boss John Suter praised his team's battling display but admitted that quality around the box was the difference.
"We have played against a team going for the play offs and two of their goals came from penalties," he said.
"Greg Palmer worked his socks off and took his goal well, I couldn't fault anybody because we worked ever so hard and you can't ask for more than that."
Man of the Match: : Greg Palmer - epitomised YM's battling spirit.
Magic Moment: The lovely flick by James Grant which turned the Kingstonian defence into statues for Palmer's goal.
Teams: YM (4-4-2): Westoby; Lutwyche, Fitzgerald, Woodburn, Russell; White (Fillery 79), Pearce, Greenfield, Foreman (Jupp 78); Grant, Palmer.