Sussex County League: Division One
Match Report
Sussex County League: Division One
 Horsham YMCA 6M. Smith 14 L. Smith 20, 54, 67 Cox 33 Sullivan 84 |  Worthing United 1 Donnelly 60 |
Match Ball Sponsor: | Source: Tom Norris |
SMITH HATRICK HELPS YM SINK SIX PAST MAVERICKS
A hatrick from Lee Smith helped Horsham YMCA make light work of a return to County League action, as they comfortably brushed aside Worthing United 6-1 on bank holiday Monday.
|
Match Stats |
||
|
Horsham YMCA |
V |
Worthing United |
|
13 |
Shots On Target |
2 |
|
10 |
Shots Off Target |
5 |
|
9 |
Offsides |
6 |
|
10 |
Corners |
0 |
|
11 |
Fouls |
8 |
|
0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
YM boss, Peter Buckland, said, "You can only beat what's put in front of you. They [Worthing] were there for the taking today, and I said to the lads that if we score first, and early, we would be able to show off a bit, and I would allow them to show off a bit if the score was right at half time.
"We went in 3-0 up, and I said 'OK lads, you can express yourselves now. You can do what I normally wouldn't allow you to do and take that extra touch or take that extra man on'.
"I wanted them to show off in front of the crowd, so that people could go home from here today and say 'do you know what, that isn't a bad YM team that's coming together.' And it isn't a bad YM team that's coming together at all.
"However, I also said to the lads that they can pick up bad habits in 'easier' games, and we've got to make sure we don't carry those with us into the tough games."
YM were without the injured Dean Wright and Tyrone Oliver, and the unavailable Matt Crane and Liam Hunter, although they were bolstered by a return to the starting line-up for goalkeeper Simon Lockwood, full-back Mike Gardner, midfielder Kevin Burgess and front man Lee Smith.
And the threat of Smith up front was immediately noticeable, as both he and strike partner and namesake Martin, wreaked havoc on a lethargic Worthing back four.
Lee shot into the side netting and then fired over from close range, before Martin opened the scoring when he latched onto a threaded Sullivan through ball, and slotted home to round off a flowing team move.
The visitors struggled to deal with YM's slick passing football, and five minutes later Lee had doubled the host's advantage, evading the offside trap and sliding the ball under Worthing 'keeper Dom Sheppard.
Martin Smith then saw a soft shot on an empty Worthing goal well blocked, before ten minutes before the break Dean Cox made it 3-0, expertly heading home a Smith cross from twelve yards.
Buckland added, "I said to Smith and Smith up top that I couldn't care less who scores the goals, as long as my forwards are working, and they were. Martin could, and should, have also easily had three today, but I'll take those acute misses on a 6-1 victory."
The hosts started the second half slowly, but it wasn't long before Lee Smith had doubled his tally for the morning. A cute Sullivan through ball found the striker just inside the area and he made no mistake with his finish, rifling the ball into the far corner.
YM then went to sleep, as a string of half hearted challenges in the middle of the park allowed Grant Thetford's through ball to find the Mavericks' Tom Donnelly, who coolly slotted home the visitor's first shot on target on the hour mark.
But the winger's goal was to be just a mere consolation, as seven minutes later Smith completed his hatrick, rolling the ball past the Worthing 'keeper after YM substitute Matt Evans had fed him clean through.
And there was just enough time for Dan Sullivan to get in on the action, as with five minutes left on the clock, a short corner found its way back to the midfielder, who curled a cross come shot in off the far post to complete the rout.
Buckland concluded, "Today was a good performance and we're in good shape. What is more, after next Saturday it'll be the last of the silly early season holidays, and it will be the first game where I'll have sixteen first team players all available."
YM face Worthing United again this Saturday, away in the FA Vase, before former boss, Sammy Donnelly, returns to Gorings Mead with his new club Ringmer in the league the following week.
YM (4-4-2):Lockwood, Gardner (Aquilina 77), Stillwell, Hartt, Lowe, Sullivan, Dugdale (c), Burgess (Scally 70), Cox (Evans 58), M. Smith, L. Smith
Unused Subs:Vinten, D. Smith
