Match Report
County League: Division One
 Hailsham 1 Andrew 1 |  Horsham YMCA 1 Elliott 5 Manton 16 Bradley 45 Rhodes 70 |
| Source: Steve Pickthall, West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA stayed firmly in the Division 1 title picture by cruising to a 4-1 win at Hailsham Town.
An early header from Paul Elliott set the on their way, and further goals from the ever impressive Tom Manton, Ryan Bradley and James Rhodes saw YM canter to their third successive league win.
Table toppers Eastbourne continued their recent wobble with defeat at Arundel, a result which keeps The Mullets firmly in the five-horse race to the crown, and having watched his side dominate proceedings Chris White believes his players can be the ones to hold their nerve.
"We are looking mentally very strong as a Unit at the moment, something I had worried about us in the past," he said.
We are now focused on what we have to do, we have four games left and we have to win them all."
YM were in business mode right from the off against a Hailsham side who had shown themselves to be no pushovers in their mid-week win over Eastbourne. And the visitors made the ideal start when, after only five minutes, Rhodes' free kick was headed in at the back post by Elliott.
Stringers stopper Glen Jenner suffered a suspected broken leg when landing badly in the build up to the goal and the writing already seemed etched on the wall. Defender Adam Kneller placed him and was soon called into action, denying Rhodes with his legs after being found by Manton.
Manton has proved equally adept playing central in the absence of Matt Geard, and alongside Rhodes the man they call 'magic' was the conjourer of almost everything YM concocted. Manton has also weighed in with his fair share of goals, and after twisting and turning Tom Riddiford on the edge of the area he added another by coolly finding the corner.
"He can play anywhere, he's just a very very good footballer," White enthused.
The closest the home side came to a goal in the opening 45 minutes was when YM captain Paul Williams flicked a header which came off his own post but striker Danny Leach scuffed the rebound.
It was game, set and match on the stroke of hall time when a flowing YM move culminated in Williams chipping a ball into the feet of Bradley, and the striker controlled instantly, turned his defender and fired in across the goal.
The visitors started the second half in a stroll, Elliott and Manton both came close, but substitute Jamie Andrews shocked them back into life when he latched onto a defensive error and lifted over Tom Rand to score with Hailsham's first real attack.
It only served as a stick to poke the angry bear -Bradley should have doubled his tally from ten yards from Wayne Joseph's cutback before the lively substitute Michael Death darted to the byline and pulled back for Rhodes to put matters beyond doubt.
Man of the Match: Tom manton - as his boss says, can play anywhere and still best player on the park. Controlled everything.
YMCA: (4-4-2):): Rand; Williams, Metcalf, Flack (Lamont 75), Geard; Joseph, Lawley (Charker 85), Rhodes, Manton; Bradley, Elliott (Death 75).
