Match Report
Ryman league: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 0 |  Sittingbourne 5 Spice 36 Johnson 62 Akhazzan 77, 81 Richmond 90 (+2) |
| Source: Steve Payne, West Sussex County Times |
THE SAYING goes 'it never rains but it pours'.— and there was plenty to worry about for Horsham YMCA manager John Suter at a decidedly damp Gorings Mead on Saturday.
He had already lost keeper Alan Mansfield to Horsham before the match and during the game defender Phil Fitzgerald was sent off, skipper Matt Russell picked up a nasty cut on his knee, Greg Palmer limped off after being tackled and stand-in keeper Dane Palmer was also injured but lasted out the game.
As far as the football went, it was a case of deja vu for YM. They started brightly in the driving rain, looked on top for long periods, played some attractive football but couldn't turn all this into goals.
Instead, Sittingbourne gained in confidence and took control.
The missing cutting edge was all too obvious in the first 30 minutes for the home side as Ali Russell, Alex Keaney and Richard Greenfield all had good chances but fluffed them.
In virtually their first proper attack Sittingbourne scored after 36 minutes when Bryan Glover's shot hit a defender and rolled perfectly to Bradley Spice to slot home.
YM were down to ten men just before the break. Fitzgerald clipped Dane Milton's heels as he was about to charge into the penalty area with the ball at his feet.
Suter re-adjusted the team for the second half but,we|e pinned back into their own third of the pitch for long periods.
There was always a chance at 1-0, but after 62 minutes the visitors pulled Further ahead when Ryan [ohnson curled a delightful shot into the far corner.
A quarter of an hour later and Hicham Akhazzan got an the scoresheet rather luckily as Dane Palmer saved one shot, the ball rolled out and mother effort hit the bar and jounced straight to the Sittingbourne striker who ;ouldn't miss.
The game was drawing to i close when the visitors scored two more.
Akhazzan netted his second after bursting through the centre of YM's defence and substitute Colin Richmond was gifted Sittingbourne's fifth.
YM keeper Dane Palmer had been earlier injured in a collision with a Sittingbourne player and he was unable to run out with any conviction to deal with a long ball forward.
Richmond's pace meant he got to the ball first and was able to score into an empty net.
The defeat, YM's heaviest ever at home in the Ryman League, left a disappointed Suter cursing his injury-plagued team's bad luck.
"It wasn't a flattering scoreline and we have never lost at home by five goals before while I've been there," said Suter.
"It's not an excuse, but there were mitigating circumstances with all the injuries we had and I think anyone who was there on Saturday would have seen that the scoreline didn't reflect the game."
Suter explained the full extent of his team's problems leading up to the game, with reserve keeper Ken Westoby on holiday the club only signed Greg Palmer's brother Dane Palmer on Friday, and were without captain Tom White (gashed knee), while centre back Andy Lutwyche had a virus so started from the bench.
"I thought we had more of the ball in the first half, but after Fitz was sent off we didn't ever have that cutting edge to get back in the game, and the last two goals went in because the keeper was injured."
Man of the Match: : Dean Carden - provided plenty of pace and some excellent passes.
Magic Moment: The flowing move that ended with Darren Pearce's delightful ball to Greg Palmer. He beat a defender but his touch was just too heavy.
Teams: YM (4-4-2): D Palmer, Carden, Fitzgerald, Pearce, Woodburn, Grant (Lutwyche 45), M Russell (Jupp 80), Greenfield, A Russell, G Palmer (Flack 73), Keaney.
