Match Report
County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 3 Manton 18, 52 Rhodes 75 |  Shoreham 0 |
| Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
TOM MANTON hit a brace, despite playing with an injured hip as Horsham YMCA were fired back into the title reckoning.
A 3-0 win at home to Shoreham was complement-ed by losses for Wick and Eastbourne United. And Manton was YM's inspiration playing through injury -as did Tony Timms, who, it emerged after the game had broken his arm.
The victory was particularly refreshing for manager Chris White, days after YM threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at Wick.
He commented: "It was exactly what we wanted. We didn't go to sleep this time. We dominated from the start against a side who have been on a good run, they did not have a minute in the game.
"I told them to think of April as a fresh start, we have stumbled through March, now that is out of the way and we have wiped the slate clean for April, everyone was excellent."
Early chances fell to Tom Graves, who thudded a header against the bar, and Paul Elliott, whose shot beat both keeper and goalpost.
It was Manton, who played at his insistence despite picking up a hip injury against Wick, who put YM ahead. Graves again out-jumped the Shoreham defence, and nodded Tom Lawley's corner down for Manton to volley in from close range.
YM had to wait until after the break to extend their lead,- but it was worth waiting for. James Rhodes, who himself is returning to fitness after a badly broken arm in pre-season, reached the byline and pulled a ball back for Manton, who shot first time from the edge of the box.
Rhodes was not done yet -with 15 minutes remaining he produced a 'special' goal to cap off a good afternoon.
Having played a short corner to Lawley, Rhodes received the ball back to feet and curled a shot home from the corner of the box.
White remarked: "Unlike at Wick, where we dominated for 75 minutes, we stayed awake for the whole 90.
"I didn't want to change the shape of the team and although Tom had, been unable to train, he decided he could start. That's the type of attitude we are going to need for the rest of the season."
YMCA: (4-3-3):Rand; Williams, Flack, Graves, Metcalf; T Timms, Marshall, Manton (Bradley 80); Lawley, Rhodes (R Timms 85), Elliott (Death 80).
