Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 1 Metcalf 15 |  Ramsgate 1 Shulz 70(pen) |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
Poor Steve Metcalf experienced the highs and lows at both ends of the pitch as Horsham YMCA were denied a win at home to Ramsgate on Saturday.
The full back had put his side ahead with a superbly taken volley in the first half,but was brought back down with a bump when a penalty was awarded against him after the ball struck his arm from point blank range, despite a hint of handball from the Ramsgate man.
It was a bitter pill for manager Chris White to swallow, despite earning their first point in four games.
"For 65 or 70 minutes we were the better side," the boss said. "We could have been further in front, we were hanging on a little bit at the end but were a little disappointed we could not take the whole three points.
"It was a ridiculous penalty. The officials lost us the game. We did tire towards the end, but they didn't score, the referees are there to make key decisions and that was the only decision he had to make."
The Gorings Mead coaching staff have been encouraging YM to improve on their sluggish starts, and the hosts flew out of the traps.
And after quarter of an hour YM were in front. Tom Manton's shot was brilliantly turned behind for a corner, which Steve Sargent whipped into the near post and was met by Metcalf s darting run on the volley.
A few minutes later and it could have been two, had Mike Huckett not fired wide after brilliantly sidestepping his man.
Ramsgate toiled to create openings, although Tom Rand did have to be alert in the YM goal to turn a wicked deflection behind.
The home side were carving out the better opportuni-ties after the break too. Huckett grazed the top of the crossbar from Paul Elliott's clever chest down, before the Rams levelled midway through the half.
The Ramsgate man appeared to have controlled the ball with his arm before lashing it against Metcalf from close range, the spot kick was controversially awarded, and converted by Warren Shulz.
Rand was called into two more good saves in the last 20 minutes as YM tired, but they held out for a point.
White added: "We were excellent for 70 minutes. The effort was superb and they gave everything. But we are creating chances and not finishing teams off, what we need is a striker who does nothing for 89 minutes and then scores a goal."
YMCA: 4-4-2):Rand; Metcalf, Graves, Cooney (Virgo 80), Brake (Pulling 82); Sargent, Manton, Huckett, Gedling; Elliott, Lawley.