Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA 0 |  Sittingbourne 5 Akhazzan 18 Horlock 50 Bradbrook 68, 70 Hooper 88 |
Match Ball Sponsor: ROBIN BISHOP (TDS) | Source: Tom Norris, West Sussex County Times |
Sittingbourne left Horsham YMCA rooted to the bottom of the league table as they helped themselves to a 5-0 victory at Gorings Mead on Saturday. br>
It sounded the death knell for manager Colin Jenkinson’s reign at YM as a sixth straight league defeat exposed many problems in a weakened team. Matt Simpson made his debut in midfield but looked far from lit, whilst captain Glen Woodburn was badly missed.
Assistant manager Dean Potter commented on the loss of Woodburn afterwards: "He’s our captain and our leader out there and we missed him big style today"
Schoolboy defending cost the home side repeatedly a point stressed by Potter: ‘They are route-one balls and you can’t defend like that at this level. I am really disappointed.
Sittingbourne dominated the early stages before Hicham Akhazzan broke the deadlock on 18 minutes after a long goal kick fell kindly for the nippy forward to finish.
The Brickies’ confidence grew and they were only denied by some superb ’keeping from Charlton Athletic loanee Connor Gough; YM ended the half the better of the two sides as Gavin Gordon’s low shot produced a fine save, before Kieran Mercer missed an open goal as he managed to hit the bar from just two yards.
The visitors upped their game in the second half and Joe Horlock quickly doubled their lead with an unstoppable 30-yard free kick. More shambolic defending allowed the Brickies to grab a third through skipper Tom Bradbrook with 20 minutes left, and despite Gough’s efforts, it wasn’t long before Bradbrook added another Jack Hooper then cooly rounded things off in the 89th minute.
YM maintain the league’s worst defensive record with 67 conceded, and a win for rivals Whitstable Town could see the gap stretch to four points as YM begin the hunt for a new manager.
YM (4-4-2): Gough, Hunt, West, Harvey, B Bowra, Newman (Collevvijn 60), Simpson, S Bowra, Mercer, Gordon, Reid.
