Match Report
County League:Division One
 Horsham YMCA 1 Lawley 27(pen) |  Seley 0 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
TOM LAWLEY'S first half penalty fired Horsham YMCA into touching distance of the top of Division 1 with a 1-0 win against ten man Selsey.
Manager Chris White had warned his side not to get carried away following their stunning Sussex Senior Cup performance in knocking out Hastings last week. And admitted that at half time, he would have taken a scrappy three points. And it's exactly what he got.
Lawley's 27th minute spot kick gave YM a deserved half time lead - but the ten men of Selsey bossed the second period.
White said: "They were the better side in the second half.
We always said that after our perfor-mance in the week it can be followed by a fall, and we just didn't keep the ball well at all in the second half."
That said, YM stopper Tom Rand only had to make one vital save to keep Selsey at bay. With the Gorings Mead side on the front foot, Lawley had one early attempt to net from 12 yards. Matt Geard was pulled back inside the box, and the flying winger forced a fantastic save from Phillips in the Selsey goal.
Lawley did not have to wait long to redeem himself. Five minutes later, Steve Metcalf met Geard's corner with a thumping header which was acrobatically kept out. Only that was with the left back's outstretched hand. A red card was inevitable, and Lawley made sure this time to put his side one ahead.
YM were able to dominate with the extra man, Geard and Shaheen Sadough forced saves from Phillip, and Selsey were glad of half time whistle.
At the break, White told his men to play snappier stuff, release balls quicker and get shots away earlier.YM did carve out a few opportunities through Paul Elliott and Lawley took an air shot when well placed.
The ten men of Selsey gave their all to the second half - and almost snatched a leveller when Rand made a fantastic save after his punched clearance returned with interest. For White, a win is a win, ands sets up a tantalising Boxing Day trip to fellow title tenders Three Bridges.
"It's in our hands at the moment, White said, “We are only three points off the top, with three games in hand."
YMCA: (4-3-3):Rand; Willie Lament, Virgo, Metcalf; Geard (Marshall 60), We Manton; Sadough (Timr 80), Elliott (Bradley 85).
