Sussex County League: Division One
Match Report
Sussex County League: Division One
 Rye United 1 |  Horsham YMCA 0 |
| Source: Graham Carter |
HORSHAM YMCA boss Sammy Donnelly hailed a solid defensive display despite a 1-0 defeat at high flying Rye United.
The free scoring hosts have found the net 59 times already this season, more than anyone else in the entire County League. So Donnelly was content to keep them down to one, and carve out a couple of presentable opportunities of their own, and all that after losing Lee Wood to a hamstring injury in the warm up.
Liam Upton’s 54th minute goal separated the two sides, and to put up a spirited display against lofty opposition means YM are making good strides, according to boss Donnelly "We could have had something from the game’ he said.
"In defeat I was proud of my players, it looks like we are going in the right direction, even though the result was not right. As far as I am concerned, we defended manfully when we had to. It was an awful day and I think Rye were glad of the three points. We had an opportunity to get a point, I was pleased with the way we played as a unit, we were tight, well organised and supported each other there were a lot of pluses."
Having watched Rye in action against Crowborough in midweek, Donnelly was wary of their threat from set pieces, and while YM kept Rye quiet on that front, they created a handful of openings themselves. Nippy winger Timmy Martin was released down the right hand side and whipped in a cross which nobody could get on the end of, Nick Sullivan shot when he might have pulled the ball back, and an Ashley Dugdale long throw was headed on by Jahmahl King, but there was nobody to pick up the pieces.
Rye went ahead ten minutes into the second half, and there was more than a hint of bad luck about it as Liam Upton’s long range shot took a huge bobble and beat keeper Simon Lockwood. YM thought they had a good shout for a penalty which was waved away as they pressed for a leveller Donnelly pushed four men up front at one point.
The manager also praised his assistant Mark Hawthorne. The former Horsham man, whose playing career involved a spell at Crystal Palace, came on as a late substitute.
"We work as a team, he is a great help," Donnelly added.
YM (4-4-2): Lockwood, J Sullivan, King, Gregory; Dugdsale, N Sullivan, Hunter (Stlllwell 80), Smith, Scally; Martin, Hillier ( Hawthorne 80)
