Match Report
Sussex Senior Cup: 2nd Round
 Horsham YMCA 1 Elliott 60, 78 (pen), 90 |  St. Francis Rangers 0 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA gave their manager Chris White the response he demanded with a 3-0 win at St Francis Rangers to progress into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup.
White blasted his players after their poor 4-1 defeat to Peacehaven last weekend but Paul Elliott's hat trick - his first goals for the club -ensured the training ground will be an altogether happier place this week.
"It was a good result against a team who have been going really well," White said.
"I wasn't happy with the result the week before and I called for a response which they gave and it was as we were earlier on in the season."
Both sides had chances in an even first 45 minutes but YM were forced into an early change when Clay Lament pulled his hamstring after just five minutes.
Shaheen Sadough - playing in a three-pronged attack with Tom Lawley and Elliott through the centre - headed a Lawley cross wide of the far post, and Elliott just failed to get on the end of a cross as Sadough turned provider.
Martyn Flack headed new signing Matt Geard's cross over on the stretch when Richard Carter and Lawley were better placed behind him, and St Francis created a number of chances as YM found themselves stretched in the goalless first half.
The visitors wasted a free kick on the edge of the area before Elliot made the breakthrough on 60 minutes. Geard and Marshall combined well down the left and the former Worthing striker tucked away Geard's cut-back for his first goal for the club.
The home side had a man sent off as YM dominated the second half, but the win wasn't secured until they gave away a penalty with three minutes remaining.
Marshall and Sadough were causing all sorts of problems and after they exchanged passes Steve Metcalf was put through only to be hauled down, and Elliott made it tw,o from 12 yards at the second time of asking.
Elliott rounded off his treble when Metcalf slipped him in to brush off the last defender and finish well from the edge of the box, and White is backing his new front man to be a success.
He said: "He's going to be a handful and he was very very sharp on Saturday.
"He's quick and strong and will be a problem for most sides so he will be a good signing."
YMCA: (4-4-2): Humphreys; Williams, Lament (Flack 5), Virgo, Metcalf; Carter, Geard, Marshall; Sadough (Joseph 80), Elliott, Lawley (Churchill 80).
