Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2 Brake Manton (p) |  Ashford Town 1 Sherwood 14 |
Match Ball Sponsor: CAMERON BARCLAY CONSULTING
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
A MUCH improved second-half display saw Horsham YMCA secure their first three points since mid August with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Ashford Town.
YM went into the match on a desperate run of form having picked up just two points from their last seven games in what has been a difficult return to Ryman One South.
So when they went behind to an early penalty the omens didn't look good. But Nigel Brake's free-kick before half-time set the platform for a vastly improved second-half and Tom Manton's 74th minute penalty sealed just their second win of the campaign.
Delighted YM manager Chris White said: "For a game as important as it was I thought we were very flat in the first-half and we had to get into them at half-time, but I thought they came out and bossed it second-half completely.
"Steve Lovell (Ashford manager) said he thought we battered them second-half and I think he was right."
With Ashford sitting just two points above YM it was a match White had labelled 'massive', but his side looked shaky in defence from the outset and simple balls over the top had the backline looking nervous.
The home side did come the closest in the opening exchanges when Mike Huckett lashed a half-volley just wide from outside the box.
With YM beginning to settle the visitors were gifted a penalty when, from a corner stand-in skipper Steve Metcalf mistimed his leap and his flailing arm made obvious contact with the ball. Ashford's captain Mitchell Sherwood gratefully tucked home the penalty for a 14th minute lead.
Ashford striker Nick Smith was denied a clear run at goal by a tight offside flag after another ball over the top caught YM's defence flat footed. Left-back Brake then went on a trademark run, skipping round a man with ease before delivering a teasing cross which Tom Lawley headed narrowly wide.
Ashford's Lee Hockey headed down and over the bar with a good chance from a corner before YM grabbed the leveller. A free kick was awarded just outside the box for handball and Brake curled it sweetly into the bottom corner, and much to the protests of the opposition, who felt the set piece should have been indirect, the goal stood.
The goal seemed to lift the home side and they came out for the second-half a completely different animal with Neil Watts epitomising their desire in the middle of the park.
White will be buoyed by the performance of his new strike force, in particular Terry Dodd, who was a constant menace on his full debut for the club.
It was the former East Preston man who won the penalty when he chased down a seemingly lost cause to win possession and was then shoved over in the box. Manton stepped up and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
YM finished the game strongly, Gavin Geddes poked just wide from Watts' knockdown and Geddes' first-time ball across the face of goal just eluded substitute John Westcott sliding in.
White will also be happier with the performance of his goalkeeper Tom Rand who commanded his area well, but it was another man who he picked out at the end.
"I thought Terry was outstanding, he's got a bit about him, he's strong, decent in the air and he's had a tremendous debut and will get better and better.
"He's stepped up two divisions tonight and you would of thought he'd been playing in this league all season."
YMCA: :Rand, Metcalf, Brake, Simpson, Cooney (Virgo 50); Watts, Lawley (Westcott 80), Huckett (Pulling 45), Manton; Geddes, Dodd.
