Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Eastbourne Town 0 |  Horsham YMCA 0 |
| Source: West Sussex County Times |
THERE was to be no repeat of the Boxing Day rout, as Horsham YMCA were held to a goalless draw at Eastbourne Town.
Seven days previously, YM romped to a 9-0 win at Gorings Mead, with eight goals in the second half — that prompted a change of management — former Worthing boss Danny Bloor replacing Andy Colwell.
And the new look Eastbourne, boasting an entirely different back four, held out for a point at the Saffrons despite the best efforts of YM’s Matt Geard and Terry Dodd who both hit the bar, while Luke Gedling saw a second half penalty saved.
Although only emerging with a point, it was more pleasing news for YM boss Chris White who has seen his team collect 14 points from a possible 27 since mid-November.
White said: "To be quite honest, with all that went on down there with people taking over and a completely new back four, plus one or two others, I would have hoped that we would have won, and havimg seen the game we should have won it.
"But I am not unhappy with the result. There was always going to be a backlash from `Boxing Day, with Danny taking over. He is a very good friend of mine and it was a difiicult day.
"We had the better chances and missed a penalty, but l think on the balance of play it was the right result."
YM’s visit to the coast was one of only two Division 1 South games to get the go ahead on Saturday, and on a tricky surface the hosts made the better start. Tony Di-Bernardo remained untested in the visiting goal however, in fact he barely had a save of note to make.
A sluggish opening 20 minutes was soon forgotten though, and YM started to create openings. Geard mighthave done better with a right foot shot which was scuffed towards goal, and he flashed a free kick narrowly over the bar while Dodd forced a decent save from Russell Tanner.
Town were hanging on for halftime in truth, and YM kept plugging away after the break without forcing too many clear cut chances.
The hosts’ goal led a charmed life with Dodd rattling the woodwork first, before Tanner made yet another penalty stop once Tom Lawley was felled in the box.
Tanner has something of a hold over YM from 12 yards — his block from Luke Gedling’s effort was his third in games against the Gorings Mead outfit this season.
White remarked: "l used to have a designated penalty taker, but with Tom Manton away, Luke stepped up to take it.
"Sometimes you just have to leave that sort of thing up to the players as it ’s down to who fancies it.
"It was. disappointing that we didn’t score from that — it was a 1-0 sort of game.”
Geard saw a shot cannon back off the bar in the last five minutes as Eastbourne remained resolute to give their new boss a good start. YMCA (4-2-2-1-1): Di-Bemardo; Watts,Cooney, Metcalf, Brake; Gedling, Huckett, (Pulling 80); Lawley, Saduugh (Westcott 60); Geard; Dodd (Geddes 75).