Match Report
County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 1 Manton 20 (pen) |  Walton & Hersham 1 Elverson 4 |
Match Ball Sponsor: Mr G. Head
| Source: Steve Pickthall, West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA recovered from an early setback to mark their return to Ryman football with a 1-1 draw with Walton & Hersham at Gorings Mead on Saturday.
The hosts went behind after three minutes but restored parity before the break when striker Paul Elliott won a penalty which Tom Manton converted.
A YM side boasting six new faces in the starting 11 showed spells of the attractive football manager Chris White is trying to promote and created chances to win the game, but in the end a draw was probably a fair reflection of the game.
White said: "After the start we had we would say we were happy with a point, but I think we went on to pretty much dominate territorially certainly the rest of the first half, and the second half was slightly more even but I thought we finished strongly, I think that's two points dropped.
"We had some chances we should have done better with. It was a blow conceding after two minutes but we came back and played some good football and the team looks like it's played together for longer than two weeks."
Having secured an immediate return to Ryman South football with promotion last term, YM made a bad start when Danny Francis floated over a free kick from the left and Matt Elverson was allowed to head into the net completely unchallenged to put John Crumplin's men 1-0 up inside five minutes.
Midfield anchorman Steve Sargeant curled an effort just over the bar and with 20 minutes on the clock Elliott did well to knock the ball off Jason Barton's toes in the area and the defender could only stop him with a trip. Manton stepped up to send Steve Windegaard the wrong way from 12 yards.
YM's backline were relieved to see an offside flag with Sean Rivers through on goal but the hosts finished the half strongly and after another slick passing move the impressive John Westcott whipped a teasing ball into the box from the right for Tom Lawley and Elliott to get in each other's way with the goal beckoning.
They continued their momentum right from kick off, Mike Huckett standing a ball up for Lawley to lash a volley at goal which required a smart save from Windegaard.
Huckett popped up on the left to pick out Westcott, and his superb acrobatic volley would almost certainly have put YM in front had it not fired straight at Walton's stopper who blocked with his legs.
Simon Austin flashed a shot across goal and substitute Julian Thompson scooped an effort over for the visitors as the game finished all square but on this evidence YM look well equipped for a positive second season under White.
"I'm pleased with the way it's going," the boss said. "People will look at this as a good result but we know with the players we've got we should have won that today."
Man of the Match: John Westcott - an impressive debut on the right and good delivery from set pieces.
Magic Moment: Westcott's mid air volley forced a reaction save.
YMCA: (4-3-3):Simon Lockwood; Matt Simpson (Metcalf 75), Nigel Brake, Tom Graves, James Virgo (Timms 80); Steve Sargeant (Gedling 85), Mike Huckett, Tom Manton; John Westcott, Tom Lawley, Paul Elliott.
