Match Report
County League: Division One
 St. Francis Rangers 3 O'Farrell 43, 54 Gault 73 |  Horsham YMCA 0 Manton 30 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA failed to capitalise on Eastbourne's surprise defeat with a 3-0 loss at St Francis Rangers as the Division 1 title race was blown wide open.
Wick were the only team in the top five to win on Saturday to leapfrog YM into second place.
Questions are again being asked of YM goal keeper Tom Rand after his latest error gifted Rangers the first goal on the stroke of half time, and for boss Chris White it was a big blow to their title chances.
"Some of the lads when they heard the other results felt they had got away with it, but I was quite angry because it was a big opportunity lost on Saturday," he said.
Having played six games in three weeks White admitted his team looked tired, and they were not helped when Matt Geard and Tom Lawley failed late fitness tests.
Apart from a couple of Neil Watts free kicks in advanced positions YM hardly threatened in the opening half, though neither did the home side until late on. Rand dropped a routine cross and then panicked as it turned into a 'bar of soap', spilling it straight to centre back Dan O'Farrell to convert.
YM started the second half brighter and Paul Elliott had a good effort dropped by the home keeper, and substitute Michael Death couldn't quite get on the end of it.
But ten minutes in Drew Cooney needlessly gave away a free kick and the resulting free kick was deflected off O'Farrell and into the net.
The jaded visitors conceded again on 73 minutes and again Rand has to take some of the blame. He failed to come for a corner delivered into the six yard area and by the time he called 'away' Gault had scored with a free header to seal a league double for St Francis Rangers.
"Someone at the county FA said it seems like nobody wants to win it," commented White. "It will be about who can hold their nerve. We have to regroup."
YMCA: (4-3-3):Rand; Williams, Flack, Cooney, Metcalf; Tidey (Joseph 45), Watts, Marshall; Bradley (Death 55), Sadough, Elliott
