Match Report
County League:Division One
 Hassocks 0 |  Horsham YMCA 2 Marshall 36 Manton 53 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA moved to fifth in the table with a 2-0 win at Hassocks on Saturday.
Midfielder Scott Marshall's fine individual goal gave the visitors a 36th minute lead and Tom Manton tapped in to make the points safe.
"They made us work real¬ly hard and the conditions made it difficult," said YM boss Chris White.
"We didn't play well in the first half but in the sec¬ond we controlled it from start to finish."
Neil Watts came close to opening the scoring for YM when his free kick clattered the crossbar on 15 minutes, and Matt Geard and Paul Elliott were both denied by good saves from the impressive Hassocks stopper.
YM were starting to apply the pressure and finally made the breakthrough when Marshall found the net with a 'classy goal'.
Picking the ball up on the edge of the area the mid-fielder ghosted past three defenders in the box before coolly slotting home.
YM keeper Tom Rand had to be alert just before halftime when James Virgo's slip let in a Hassocks forward, but Rand was equal to his shot pushing the ball past his post.
Less then ten minutes into the second half YM doubled their lead when a corner was played short to Geard and his shot from the corner of the box was fumbled straight to Manton to tap in.
The visitors were now in total control although Rand's quick reactions again denied Hassocks, diving at the feet of a striker who was clean through and expertly collected the ball.
Substitute Tom Lawley had an effort well saved from the edge of the area and Paul Elliott was again denied a deserved goal by another save from the young stopper.
The win moves Horsham to just two points behind leaders Three Bridges with three games in hand in what is a very close Division 1 table.
"It's very close, as close as it's been in a long time," said White.
"We were ninth before Saturday so that just tells you how tight it is.
"All we can do is concentrate on ourselves and if we keep winning games we will have as good a chance as any."
YMCA: (4-4-3):Rand; Watts, Lamont, Virgo, Williams; Carter (Metcalf 55), Marshall, Geard (Joseph 75); Sadough (Lawley 60), Manton, Elliott.
