Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 1 Manton 37 |  Sittingbourne 1 Arkhazzan 56 |
Match Ball Sponsor: Mr R. Kelsey
| Source: Allan Norbury, West Sussex County Times |
THESE are the type of games which can define a season, and Saturday's 1-1 draw against Sittingbourne summed up YM's campaign so far to a tee.
Boss Chris White was eager to gain a first league win at home against a side two places above YM, in 17th in the Ryman Division 1 South.
And it looked good as the hosts enjoyed an impressive start and could have been two or three ahead when Tom Manton opened the scoring. But, a lack of cutting edge up front and a defensive lapse conspired to make YM wait for their first three points at Gorings Mead.
"We should have got the win, we had enough chances to be two or three ahead at half time," White remarked.
"We played some decent football, but gave a poor goal away, we have just got to somehow finish teams off."
YM were rampant from the first whistle and the Brickies just could not live with Tom Lawley's pace up front, and the precision of John Westcott's crossing.
Within seconds, a Westcott delivery was half cleared and it took a good save to beat away Luke Gedling's venomous drive. A minute later, Steve Metcalf s instinctive header was tipped over by Derren Ibrahim after another pin point Westcott cross was flicked on.
Tom Manton was then denied by Matt Bourne's impressive tackle, and it was a question of when, not if, YM would score.
Gedling often cut an isolated figure on the left as White's men looked to attack through Westcott on the right time after time - but they got their reward on 37 minutes. Another cross from the former Horsham man was allowed to reach Manton on the far side of the box, and on his return from a bout of swine flu he dis¬patched a fine half volley.
Sittingbourne certainly meant business in the second period however, and carved out their first chance on 47 minutes when Billy Manners headed over after a long throw was flicked on.
The manner of Sittingbourne's goal will frustrate and concern White in equal measure. Brickies keeper Ibrahim aimed a punt deep into YM territory, and instead of a clearing head or boot, the ball was allowed to bounce and Hicham Arkhazzan ran through the middle to smash a shot past Tom Rand.
White remarked: "I think the problem is sometimes when the ball is in an oppos¬ing side's defensive third our players switch off. They thought 'the goalkeeper's got it' and they switched off."
Lawley was denied at point blank range just moments later, but the momentum had shifted for a while. That said, YM still had the better chances, Mike Huckett sliced a shot wide, and Neil Watts blazed over from the edge of the box. There was still time for Rand to save well from Colin Richmond, but it was YM who finished the stronger as they worked numerous attacking positions without getting a snot in.
White added: "The pleas¬ing thing was our fitness and the fact we finished stronger. We just lack some confi¬dence and that desire to get on the end of crosses
Man of the match: John Westcott - best crosser in the division?
Magic moment: The five minute whirlwind YM started with to set the tone.
YMCA: 4-5-1):Rand; Metcalf, Graves, Cooney, Brake; Westcott, Watts (Pulling 90), Huckett, Manton (Sargeant 77), Gedling (Rhodes 82); Lawley.
