YM aim for first back to back victories of season

4th Jan 2008

JOHN Suter is looking for a first of the season on Saturday - back to back league wins for Horsham YMCA. The Gorings Mead club entertain Ashford Town having just beaten Eastbourne Town in a relegation battle Suter remarked: "They've got a new manager, Steve Lovell, who has got his son in, Mark Lovell, and he has a reputation for scoring goals so that will improve them. "We go in knowing that every week is going to be a difficult game. "We would like very much to get the three points but we haven't had back to back wins all season." Matt Russell missed Saturday's win over their Sussex rivals with illness and Greg Palmer is also suffering with a virus but Tom Lyons is back in training and Glen Woodburn is looking like his old self after a long term injury. The manager said: "Woody [Woodburn] is back and being Woody-like which is good. He is a character and there are not enough characters in the game - he's great to have around." His return and that of Ali Russell's is coinciding with an upturn in form for YM. "It's going a bit better lately," commented Suter. "We had a very indifferent start to the season and a very indifferent few months. League wise it has been very disappointing - although some people might say it was expected. "Losing Ellis Hooper in our last pre-season friendly was a massive blow but I think we are getting stronger and more organised." The manager said: "The last eight games in the form guide has seen a big improvement for us. It's looking more positive, we have an average record of 11 points from 24, but we need to improve on that again. "It is an improvement and maybe there is a little light at the end of the tunnel when it did look very dark." Molesey prop everyone else up, with YM second from bottom, level on points with Walton Casuals and only one behind Eastbourne. Other teams are within striking distance as well with Whitstable being sucked into a relegation battle and the likes of Chatham Town, Corinthian Casuals and even Leatherhead and Ashford not far ahead. Suter added: "There is still an awful lot of hard work to do and points to play for but we have a chance of staying in this league which is our sole ambition."