Sussex County League: Division One
Match Report
Sussex County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 3 Smith 49(pen) Wright 62 N. Sullivan 78 |  Pagham 3 Murfin 40 Pearce 90 Temple 90+1 |
Match Ball Sponsor: CAMERON BARCLAY | Source: Tom Norris |
DONNELLY UPBEAT DESPITE LAST GASP PAGHAM FIGHTBACK
YMCA boss, Sammy Donnelly, insisted that he had “nothing but praise” for his side, despite falling victim to yet another cruel injury time setback, dealt this time by Division 1 high-flyers Pagham.
|
Match Stats |
||
|
Horsham YMCA |
V |
Pagham |
|
5 |
Shots On Target |
7 |
|
2 |
Shots Off Target |
7 |
|
0 |
Offsides |
0 |
|
5 |
Corners |
5 |
|
14 |
Fouls |
7 |
|
1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
The Lions dominated a patchy first forty-five, the league’s top scorer, Scott Murfin, eventually putting the visitors ahead five minutes before the break.
But a resolute YM responded in a spirited second half display, Dan Smith lashing home a penalty, and Dean Wright and Nick Sullivan sending the hosts two goals clear with less than a quarter of an hour to play. And heading into injury time, a tenth win of the season looked inevitable for Donnelly’s men, albeit for two agonisingly late strikes from Pagham’s Darren Pearce and James Temple.
“I’ve got nothing but praise for the lads,” commented Donnelly. “Let’s not forget this is our third game we haven’t lost in a row, and all against good opposition. Yes, the minuses are that we were 3-1 up with probably three minutes to go, and I do see it as two points lost, but against opposition that are meant to win the league, it was a hell of a performance from the guys.
“No one would have thought that we’d get anything out of the game today. Even the most loyal of supporters would have thought that if we’d drawn we’d have done well, and so there are a lot of pluses we can take from the game.”
Although still thwart with numerous injuries, YM did welcome back fit again defender Jahmahl King, and the returning George Hillier up front, whilst Tom’s, Stillwell and Lyons, were consigned to the bench in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
Pagham, placed second in Division 1, made a lightening start to the first half, with their momentum from the opening exchanges carrying them through much of a fairly one-sided affair.
Striker, Murfin, was causing havoc with his quick feet and free-role behind front man, Temple - the latter firing The Lions’ first attempt just wide of the post. Murfin turned provider again, linking well with midfield brother, Neil, to produce a golden opportunity for Ross Woolf, who dragged his volley wide when found free at the far post.
Woolf then fired a second strike just the wrong side of the upright, YM ‘keeper Simon Lockwood made a fine stop from a towering Paul Jones header, and Temple also nodded straight at the stopper, before YM threatened for the first meaningful time in the half.
Noticeably most dangerous through Nick Sullivan down the right flank, he linked well with Wright, only for the striker’s low, near post shot to be blocked wide. Wright then fed Sullivan, who weaved his way to the edge of the area before scuffing a tame shot off target.
Forward, Murfin finally broke the deadlock though, minutes before half time, latching onto a half cleared cross to fire home his eighteenth of the season.
The second period looked as if it would follow in much the same vein, with the visitors again flying out of the blocks, but it was YM who pulled a goal back against the run of play. Hillier was upended in the Pagham box, and Dan Smith stepped up to coolly rifle home the resulting spot kick.
Neil Murfin then volleyed wide for The Lions when well placed, before Dean Wright leapt highest to meet a curled Dan Sullivan corner and hand the hosts the lead for the first time in the tie.
With half an hour left YM had the wind in their sails, and Pagham were fortunate not to have been reduced to ten men, as defender Paul Jones hauled down Hillier as he streaked clean through, only to escape with just a booking.
Ten minutes later, however, the decision was forgotten as Nick Sullivan was released down the YM right and the speedy forward drilled the ball across the ‘keeper and into the net to extend the host’s advantage.
But in similar fashion to their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arundel three weeks ago, YM failed to see the fixture out to the end, and all of their hard work was undone in two heart-aching minutes.
Pagham skipper, Pearce, first hit an unstoppable strike from a full 25-yards into the top right hand corner, before a minute later and just thirty seconds from time, a delightfully whipped Murfin cross was flicked on and prodded home by the poaching Temple from close range, shattering YM hearts once again.
Boss, Donnelly added, “For the second goal the kid’s hit it from 20-odd yards, it’s flown in and we should have defended it a little bit better. It gave them the impetus when they got the second, but the third goal they got a bit lucky.
“And we’re getting there. It’s taken me half a season to try and get where I want to be, and I always knew it would be tough. We just need to take the pluses into the next game.”
And that next fixture will be a tough task at home to Selsey, a side sitting just below YM in the table, but with four games in hand over Donnelly’s men.
“It’s going to be another tough match on Tuesday night. I’ve watched Selsey and they’re quite physical and have a big side, but we’ll just have to see what’s what.”
YM (4-4-2):Lockwood, D. Sullivan, Crane, King, Dugdale (c) (Scally 86), N. Sullivan, Hawthorne, Smith, Curtis, Wright, Hillier (Martin 88)
Unused Subs: Stillwell, Lyons, Conteh
