Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 0 |  Walton Casuals 3 Buckle 38 Barima 61 Newman (og) 84 |
Match Ball Sponsor: ROBIN BISHOP (TDS) | Words by Tom Norris |
Assistant Horsham YMCA manager Dean Potter praised his side’s performance on Saturday afternoon, despite being on the receiving end of a 3-0 home defeat to Walton Casuals.
The result leaves YM reeling at the bottom of the Ryman Division One South League table and two points adrift of safety.
‘I can’t fault the lads for effort, and that is the sad thing about it’, commented the number two at the club. ‘They have all worked hard and it has just been mistakes for the goals today - individual errors.’ A fourth straight league defeat for Potter’s side now means that their nearest relegation rivals, Whitstable Town, have the chance to put some breathing space between themselves and YM, with two games in hand.
A scrappy affair saw very little chances created by either side in the first half, as cheap free kicks and numerous offside’s broke up the majority of the play. However, it was YM who should have taken the lead on the half hour mark. Some neat work from striker Joey Collewijn set up Scott Kirkwood, only for his low drive to be smartly saved by the Casuals keeper from twelve yards.
Then the hosts were made to pay for their missed opportunity, when eight minutes later a long kick downfield from the visitor’s keeper caused confusion in the YM defence. The ball was left to bounce off the outstretched leg of centre back Sol Bowra, before kindly dropping for Casuals’ number nine, Danny Buckle, to comfortably slot home. Assistant, Potter added, ‘I thought we were on top of the game leading up to the first goal, and then suddenly one punt up field hits Sol’s heel and goes right into the path of the player. If we are further up the table it would have gone for a corner. That is luck for you isn’t it?’
The second forty five failed to improve for Colin Jenkinson’s men and frustration began to set in as a number of players found themselves in the book. Minimal attempts on goal were created by either team, but it was the visitors who did just enough to double their lead with half an hour left on the clock. YM gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the park, and Casuals were able to capitalise on the mistake. Skipper Craig Lewington won a rare fifty-fifty with YM defender Glen Woodburn, which left the ball to break to Michael Barima, and the striker made no mistake in dinking his finish over the onrushing keeper.
With eight squad members unavailable for selection, YM found it impossible to bring on anyone from the bench, let alone someone with an attacking mind to change the game. Both Collewijn and Gavin Gordon produced very little up front and The Stags were able to finally put the game beyond all doubt five minutes from time. A free-flowing move found its way to Joe Kelly on the Walton right, before his superb cross was converted into the net by YM defender Steve Newman to round off a disappointing display from the hosts.
One bright note for the home side, however, was the performance of youngster Conor Gough, who made his home debut in the YM goal. The seventeen-year-old giant, who is on loan from Charlton Athletic, made several fine saves and looks set for a long goalkeeping future ahead of him.
YM face Fleet Town away on Tuesday evening, and will hope to deliver a similar display that saw them beat The Blues earlier in the season.
YM (4-4-2): Gough, Newman, Bowra, Woodburn, Bowra, Douglas, Kirkwood, Brewer, Mercer, Gordon, Collewijn.
