Match Report
County League:Division One
 Three Bridges 1 Romaine 58 |  Horsham YMCA 2 Manton 41 Lawley 45 (pen) |
| Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
CHRIS White believes his Horsham YMCA side are hitting their straps at exactly the right time to make a bid for top spot.
Boxing Day's 2-1 win lifted YM to within a point of leaders Wick, and with games in hand over a busy January, White pointed to the momentum being built up.
"It's all about getting that momentum for us," he said. "We have come here against a side who were much fan¬cied to win the league and done very well.
"It's all about keeping it going now. We have a lot of games in January, but sometimes if you are winning that is a very good thing."
YM were extremely impressive as they built up a two goal lead before half time through Tom Manton and Tom Lawley's penalty, but Bridges are not considered title candidates for nothing, and Paull Faili's side enjoyed the better of the second period playing into biting gusts of wind.
It took both sides a while to adjust to the conditions, and to brush off the post-Christmas sluggishness. Paul Elliott had the first chance of note on the half hour, lashing a half volley inches wide of the post when the ball sat up kindly.
That lifted the game, for Bridges Tom Lyons tried his , luck from 25 yards, forcing stand goalkeeper Ronan Callaghan into a save.
YM had the more incisive play - the movement of the away side's front three was too hot to handle. Man ton saw an effort turned away by Mark Fox, before giving his side the lead on 41 minutes. Lawley was having a lot of joy running at Ashley Dugdale, and when a flowing move found him in space, he attacked the full back and his low cross was touch into the path of Manton to drill home.
It became two on the stroke of half time, Elliott tangled on the deck with Mark Zydonik and Lawley converted the spot kick with ease.
Bridges improved after the break, substitute Elliot Romaine was lively, and Sam Me Vicar came off the bench to test Callaghan with a skidding effort, before Dugdale went close. The hosts were knocking on the door, and for YM, Elliott became increasingly isolated up front.
The reward came for Bridges when Romaine headed home Dean Garden's corner, to set up a tense final 30 minutes. As the tension increased, some tasty tackles flew in. Matt Geard and Martyn Flack escaped greater censure when they hit their men hard. In the end YM finished the stronger with Fox doing well to deny Scott Marshall.
YMCA: (4-3-3):Callaghan; Williams, Metcalf, Lament, Timms; Bradley (Flack 75), Marshall, Geard; Lawley, Manton, Elliott (Death 90).
