Match Report
Ryman League: Division One South
 Horsham YMCA U18 1 Merridew 1 Wilde 90+3 |  Welling United Kadima 67 Taylor 76 |
| Report by Tom Norris |
WILDE TIMES AT YM AS LAST MINUTE STRIKE STEALS POINT
Super-sub, Joe Wilde, netted a dramatic late equaliser for a tired looking Horsham YMCA, as they claimed a hard fought point against a tough Welling United outfit at Gorings Mead on Friday evening.
|
Match Stats |
||
|
Horsham YMCA |
V |
Welling Utd |
|
5 |
Shots On Target |
6 |
|
6 |
Shots Off Target |
8 |
|
2 |
Offsides |
1 |
|
3 |
Corners |
9 |
|
8 |
Fouls |
14 |
|
1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
|
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
Much like YM’s season so far, it was a tale of two halves for the hosts, who looked comfortable at times in the first period, but were made to fight out a nervous second forty-five where the visitor’s academy credentials soon shone through.
But it was Wilde who would steal the show three minutes into injury time and ruin the Welling celebrations, as his superbly taken leveller ensured YM would finish the season above local rivals Horsham Youth at the foot of the Ryman League table.
And for a player who was only signed on in early February as a spare goalkeeper, and who has appeared just once for YM during this campaign, it was nothing less than remarkable that he would step up to grant the hosts their seventeenth point out of a possible last twenty-four.
Wilde, who currently plays football for local men’s team Horsham Trinity commented, ‘I was going to come on in the defence before we went behind. Brad [Carter] looked like he was struggling, and Neil [Vanson] asked if I could play up front and just put myself around a bit for the last ten minutes.
‘I felt like there was nothing left to lose and I knew I was good in the air to upset the defence and support our other players. I really didn’t expect to score.’
Having seen their six match unbeaten run come to an end with a 4-0 away defeat at Lewes on Tuesday evening, YM couldn’t have replied better than with the start they made to Friday’s contest. And had it not been for Wilde’s last minute equaliser, the game would have certainly been remembered for Matt Merridew’s stunning opener.
With just thirty-eight seconds on the clock, the ball fell to the centre back thirty yards out, and after skipping past two defenders, he unleashed a dipping strike that flew over the Welling ‘keeper and into the top left hand corner of the net.
The early breakthrough certainly brought the London-based visitors to life and a lively first quarter of an hour followed as the YM defence were put under a strong spell of Welling pressure. The Wings’ Dean Elliott swivelled to hit a sweetly struck volley just over from the edge of the box, before Jack Taylor beat onrushing YM ‘keeper Ben Chappels to the ball when one on one, only to see his subsequent shot trickle just wide of the far post.
YM, however, soon found their feet and they too began creating chances. Some tenacious work from Louis Masih down the right wing teed up midfielder Sam Bulley, but with a defender on his shoulder, he could manage only a rushed shot that looped over the Welling crossbar. A floated Bulley free kick was then flicked on by striker Masih, and with youngster Alex Malins sliding in at the far post, the visitors’ ‘keeper, Max Hudson, did well to intercept the danger.
The play ebbed and flowed, but neither side really posted any real further threat on goal until the end of the first half. A corner from the visitors found Sam Eastgate unmarked at the back post, but the full backs’ volley was well cleared off the line by YM’s Ryan Taylor. And then just moments later, Eastgate this time turned provider as his out-swinging set piece was powerfully headed goalwards by centre back Emil Durban, only for YM defender Dom Giacomelli to this time deny the frustrated visitors, clearing a second Welling effort off the line.
It was the home side who made the brighter start to the second period and they should have extended their lead inside the first ten minutes. A long range Bulley free kick was well palmed round the post by the Wings’ ‘keeper, before frontman Masih saw two great chances go to waste. Some good work from Malins in the middle of the park first fed in the speedy striker, whose powerful shot stung the gloves of the Welling ‘keeper and rebounded just out of reach of the on-rushing Brad Carter.
Then, minutes later, a long ball over the top again found Masih, who superbly brought the ball down, before his seemingly perfectly executed lob was simply too good for both ‘keeper and woodwork, as the uneven and unpredictable bounce of the Gorings Mead pitch sent his effort agonisingly over the crossbar.
The miss signalled the start of a barrage of Welling pressure, and a weary and lethargic looking YM soon found themselves struggling to hold on to their lead. Some great work from Taylor down the Wings’ left teed up Dekkiund Wallace, but the striker’s drilled shot flew high over the YM crossbar from twelve yards. Elliott, then saw his flashed effort across goal cannon off the post before a mistake by YM full back Giacomelli gifted the vivacious winger his second attempt on goal, this time sharply kept out by the left boot of YM ‘keeper, Chappels.
Josh Tustin replaced an exhausted Malins in the YM midfield, before the inevitable equaliser eventually came. Midfielder, Elliott, was again involved, this time providing a perfectly weighted pass for Emmanuel Kadima to run onto and lash home from just inside the box.
And ten minutes later, Welling had taken the lead. Another Eastgate corner this time found Taylor at the far post, and the striker made no mistake with his finish, bringing the ball down before blasting it into the roof of the net. The visitor’s could have extended the score line even further going into the last ten minutes, but a fine fingertip save from YM ‘keeper Chappels, denied a long range Jeffery Kimoto strike from finding the top corner.
And then, with what was ultimately the final attack of the tie, substitute Wilde stamped his authority on the game. Bulley picked up the ball in midfield, before dinking a fine chip over a stationary Welling defence into the path of the bustling marksman. Wilde ran through and lobbed the ball over the stranded ‘keeper and into the back of the net, rounding off a memorable last home game of the season for an ecstatic, yet somewhat astonished YM crowd.
When asked about a possible permanent position in next season’s squad, Wilde added jokingly, ‘This goal has already seen increased interest from many other clubs including Horsham Trinity Seconds. I’ll weigh up all my offers come pre-season, but I don’t feel its right to comment at this point.’
YM’s final game of the season is a tough fixture away at Tonbridge Angels on Monday 9th May, where both sides have only a prideful end to their respective campaigns to play for.
YM (4-4-2):Chappels, Taylor, Merridew, Skett, Giacomelli, Nwachukwu, Bulley, Malins (Tustin 66), Carter (Wilde 77), Magnus (Polak 70), Masih
Unused Subs: -
