YM need to 'learn lessons' from cup win

31 August 2009

HORSHAM YMCA boss Chris White says his side need to improve on closing out natches after their 5-3 FA Cup win against Wick on Sunday. YM had raced into a 3-0 lead shortly after half time, but County League side Wick hit back. Although White's team just kept their noses in front throughout, the FA Cup preliminary round tie became tighter than it might have been. White said: "To have gone 3-0 up, you have to close the game out. That does not necessarily mean that you score more, but you get nice and solid and not give anything away. "If we were in a league match and we gave someone a foothold it might have been a different story." YM went in front thanks to Tom Manton, Paul Elliot and Steve Metcalf, before Steve Boston and Scott Murfin pulled two goals back for Wick. Tom Lawley made it 4-2 just after the hour mark but Wick threatened to haul themselves back into the match again when Phil Turner notched their third with 15 minutes to go. But Paul Elliot struck late on to make it five for YMCA and kill off any threat of a Wick comeback. Meanwhile, Nigel Brake is out of action for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in training, while John Westcott is a fitness concern with a gashed knee.