Match Report
Sussex County league: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 2 Flack 44 Lawley 85 |  Ringmer 1 Browne 90 |
| Source: Steve Pickthall, West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA manager Chris White called for his team to bounce back after their humiliating 5-0 defeat at Whitehawk, and goals from Martyn flack and Tom Lawley ensured the call was answered.
Tuesday's scoreline was a harsh reflection on YM's performance but White admitted his players' confidence had been dented and in Ringmer they faced a team on a high having won all their opening three games.
"It was very important that we bounced back, and although the performance wasn't great it was the result that was important," he said.
"I said before the game that I didn't care if it was a scrappy win, it was just about getting the result and we did that."
Unsurprisingly it was Ringmer who made the more confident start and after some tepid exchanges the visitors carved the first two chances.
Clay Lamont's despairing lunge couldn't prevent the ball through to Robbie Frost, but the winger could only hit the post from eight yards although the offside flag was raised, and on ten minutes Tom Rand was called into action to deny Sam Sowther with a flying save.
With injuries to several YM strikers, Richard Carter was once again deployed just behind Ryan Bradley, and his clever back heel found Tom Lawley in the area to cross low for Bradley, but he could only prod into the grateful arms of keeper Jack Stern from six yards.
Ringmer were passing the ball around fluently and only a superb last ditch challenge from Lamont prevented Sowther from getting his shot away from close range, and as the half ticked on YM's defence were undone by a ball over the top for Sam Greatwich to chest down and move in on goal, only to scuff his shot straight to Rand.
With a minute on the clock a dull 45 minutes was brought to life when Tony Timms' perfectly weighted pass found the run of left back Flack, who got there at the same time as the onrush-ing Stern but reacted quickest to get back to his feet and find the net to the obvious relief of the players.
The visitors were clearly given instructions to attack after the break and substitute Craig Browne was unlucky to see his fizzing left foot strike from 30 yards come back off the post with Rand beaten.
Browne's aerial ability continued to cause problems and he had the ball in the net on 55 minutes only to be denied by the offside flag, and then a penalty shout was turned down minutes after when Lamont's sliding challenge halted Sowther in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Having resisted the onslaught YM then took hold of the game as Lawley began to find space down the right and use his pace to cause havoc in the Ringmer defence, his cross providing a chance for Bradley but his difficult header on the stretch was easy for Stern.
The winger setup another chance for Bradley when he darted past his man and cut the ball back across goal for the striker to slice horribly wide when he should have at least tested Stern, but with five minutes remaining Lawley started and finished the goal which killed the game off.
He picked up the ball on the right, and after exchanging passes with Carter cut inside onto his left foot and fired the ball into the bottom corner to cap an excellent second half display.
Ringmer did manage a consolation through the impressive Browne, but it wasn't enough to spoil White's day.
"We were a lot better in the second half, I thought Clay Lamont was outstanding," he said.
"Tom Lawley came into it in the second half and we were much more of a threat with him in the game, but he has to do that more.
"There is no one in this league with his pace so we need him to play like that for the whole 90 minutes."
Man of the match: Tom Lawley - after a quite first' half the winger caused all sorts of problems down the right and deserved his goal.
Magic Moment:Martyn Flack's goal on the stroke of half time gave the hosts a much needed boost.
YMCA: (4-4-1-1): Rand; Williams, Flack, Head, Lamont; Joseph (Georgiou 65), Lawley, Timms, Hayward; Carter; Bradley.
