Match Report
County League:Division One
 Horsham YMCA 1 Annis 17,75 |  St. Francis Rangers 2 Lawley 35 Geard 42 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA spent less than 96 hours at the top of Sussex County League Division 1 before being knocked off their perch on Saturday.
Manager Chris White dubbed his side's performance their worst in more than three months, as they slumped to a 2-1 loss at home to St Francis Rangers.
Although it took a last minute strike to put an end to YM's eight match unbeaten run, the hosts were rarely in with a shout of winning this contest.
White remarked: "We didn't deserve to win the game. It was probably the poorest performance since losing to Peacehaven in the FA Vase.
"I don't know if we looked tired; we have played four games in 11 days on heavy pitches where other sides have had games called off, but I don't know if that's an excuse, we just didn't start quickly enough."
YM's sluggish start to the game was punished in the 20th minute by the prolific Sam Jeremiah. After losing the ball in midfield, YM's defence were not tight enough and Jeremiah slammed home a shot from the edge of the box which gave Tom Rand little chance. White added: "It was a very good finish and he is a very good striker, we gave him a little too much time."
The home side are not considered favourites for the title for nothing however, and they were level six minutes later. From 'the only decent ball into the box all game' after some neat interplay between Steve Metcalf and Shaheen Sadough, Paul Elliott volleyed home in style.
The one other moment of danger YM could create saw Tom Manton pull a ball into the box which was easily dealt with, while substitute Ryan Bradley tried an ambitious header late on.
St Francis struck the killer blow in the 90th minute. A corner was only half cleared and as a high looping cross came in, Ben Palmer was able to walk in from 25 yards unopposed to meet the header and seal the points for the Haywards Heath based side.
White commented: "You can have all the ability in the world, but if the other team works harder than you, it makes life very difficult.
"It was very disappointing, it was in our hands, but teams can go above us now.
"But we have 18 games left to play, and if anyone had said we would be sec-ond half way through the season, I would have been delighted."
YMCA: (4-3-3):Rand; Williams, Metcalf, Timms (Flack 25), Lament; Marshall, Watts (Bradley 65), Geard; Lawley, Sadough (Manton 60), Elliott.
