Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 2Amponsah 13 Masih 73 |  Ramsgate 3 Gregory 3 Tsangarides 17, 623 |
Match Ball Sponsor: MARTIN TICKNER | Words by Tom Norris |
Horsham YMCA crashed to their second league defeat in four days, as relegation rivals Ramsgate clinched all three points with a 3-2 win at Gorings Mead last night.
The result leaves Colin Jenkinson’s men second from bottom in the league table and with only a single point gained from their last five outings.
A familiar lack-lustre start saw YM go a goal behind after just three minutes of the first half. A long Ramsgate throw failed to be dealt with and a bizarre sliced shot on the edge of the box from defender James Gregory found its way over the head of keeper Mark Fox, and into the net.
Yet another new look YM side, did finally find their feet, and ten minutes later were back on level terms. Some good work in the air from striker Gavin Gordan allowed Fabian Brown to slide in Michael Amponsah, and the striker made no mistake with a cooly taken finish. However, the home side were soon on the back foot again, and only four minutes after the equaliser, Ramsgate had regained the lead. A simple through ball was all it needed to split the YM defence, and youngster Tom Tsangarides was on hand to slide the ball past the onrushing keeper.
The wet conditions meant both sides found it difficult to keep the ball on the ground and neither team really threatened the opposition’s goal. YM created some half chances, helped by the constant aerial threat of Gordan up front, but their good forward play was often wasted in the final third of the pitch.
Ramsgate then closed out the half the better of the two sides. A flurry of attacks could have easily seen their lead doubled, especially if striker Mark Lovell had been a little more composed in front of goal. YM players stood and waited for an offside flag that never came, as he blasted his first attempt straight at keeper Fox. Then, minutes later the ball dropped for the number nine inside the six yard box, only for him to drag his effort agonisingly wide. A huge Ramsgate penalty shout and a goal mouth clearance from YM skipper Glen Woodburn followed, before the referee ended the first forty-five with the visitors a goal up.
The Rams begun the second half the brighter of the two sides, but it was easy for them to create chances with YM second to everything and constantly giving the ball away. Then, just after the hour mark, the visitors finally extended their lead as YM’s poor form was summed up in a moment of sheer humiliation for midfielder Scott Kirkwood. His back pass left goalkeeper Fox completely stranded, and Lovell was able to capitalise, providing the assist for Tsangarides who was left to tap in his second of the evening.
More last ditch defending, lead by Woodburn kept Ramsgate at bay, before the home side were able to press forwards themselves. In-form Youth team striker Louis Masih replaced Gordan for his first team debut and instantly caused trouble down the YM left. Finding himself with the ball out wide, he whipped in a superb cross-come-shot, which beat everyone inside the six yard box, including the Ramsgate keeper, and bounced off the far post before nestling into the net.
However, a comeback never looked on the cards after that, and frustration set in for YM both on and off the pitch. Manager, Jenkinson, was asked by the referee to leave his technical area for verbal abuse and The Rams closed out the final five minutes for a vital 3-2 win. The much needed victory moves them up to fourteenth in the table and away from the relegation scrap that YM are still very much involved in.
Jenkinson’s men face Eastbourne Town at home on Saturday, where they need nothing other than a win to get their season back on track and out of this awful rut.
YM (4-3-3): Fox, B Bowra, Newman, Nyang, Woodburn (c), S Bowra, Collewijn, Kirkwood, Amponsah, Brown, Gordan (Masih 57)
Man of the Match: Glen Woodburn – only YM player out there with some real fight left in him.
