Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 3Douglas 13 Sachies 74 Gordan 82 |  Eastbourne Town 2 Paton 23 Crabb 43 |
Match Ball Sponsor: NEIL CHARTRES | Words by Tom Norris |
A Gavin Gordon header eight minutes from time earned a jubilant Horsham YMCA their first win in six league games as they beat Eastbourne Town at home on Saturday.
Assistant manager, Dean Potter, praised his side’s second half performance, and the efforts of substitute Gordon, as they came from behind to take all three points. The number two in command, hailed the result as ‘full of passion’ and ‘thoroughly well deserved’, despite some still obvious issues in the YM defence. Manager, Colin Jenkinson, remained suited up as he watched on from the stand, trying to gain a different perspective on his side’s recent lack of form.
Returning to the more conventional 4-4-2 formation, YM started the game much the better of the two sides and were a goal up inside the first quarter of an hour. A Joey Collewijn flick found Fabian Brown inside the visitor’s box, and the striker was able to tee up Antoine Douglas, who made no mistake in tucking the ball away from close range.
The sheer presence of Peter Barkley, returning at the heart of the YM midfield, seemed uplifting, but it wasn’t enough to keep Eastbourne at bay, and ten minutes later they were back on level terms. A lofted free kick failed to be dealt with, and midfielder Brett Paton was on hand to smash the ball home from just inside the box. Manager, Jenkinson, continued to feed information to assistant Potter from his perch in the stand, but that paid little dividends in preventing the second goal that YM conceded just before half time. A hopeful punt up field from Eastbourne goalkeeper Kieron Thorpe beat everyone in the YM defence, except for winger Sam Crabb, who coolly lobbed the ball over keeper Mark Fox and into the net from eighteen yards.
A demoralised and deflated looking YM entered the break, but a very different side seemed to step out for the second forty-five. Led by the ever vocal Glen Woodburn and with Barkley’s tenacity in midfield, the hosts began to show some fight. Frustration set in at first, as every decision went Town’s way, but YM soon took control of the scrappy start to the half and begun creating some chances of their own.
New signing Spencer Sachies, making his first appearance for the club, replaced Douglas on the YM left and instantly caused the Eastbourne defence problems. Some neat work down the left flank first saw him provide for an empty six yard box, before minutes later a second cross then supplied a free header for Brown, who failed to hit the target. The speedy winger finally got his reward though, fifteen minutes from time, when a Barkley cross found him unmarked at the back post and he was left to lash home a ferocious volley for the YM equaliser.
However, Eastbourne responded well, and were soon punching holes in the YM defence once more. Midfield giant Ryan James first saw his effort fly inches past the post, before goal scorer Crabb went close to doubling his personal tally, when his low drive was smartly stopped by keeper Fox. However, it was to be YM’s day, and with eight minutes left of normal time to play, Gordon rose highest in the box to powerfully head home the winner from a Ben Bowra cross - also marking his third goal of the current campaign.
An anxious last five minutes followed, before the referee finally blew his whistle to hand YM only their third league win of the season. A euphoric atmosphere amongst the players showed what the result meant to some, but a relieved looking Jenkinson simply bypassed the celebrations and headed for the changing room. Assistant, Potter, also made clear after the game that nothing is certain, and that YM are in no means out of trouble yet. ‘It’s only one win’ he said, ‘we now need to push on.’
The win moves YM above Whitstable Town in the league table and within three points of sixteenth place. However, if they hope to build on this performance with a result at Godalming Town next week, they’ll need to think long and hard about the numerous problems that are still facing them on the pitch.
YM (4-4-2): Fox, Newman, S Bowra, Woodburn (c), B Bowra, Kirkwood, Nyang, Barkley, Douglas (Sachies 58), Collewijn (Gordon 69), Brown.
