Comeback on the cards: Horsham YM’s eight men fight back to claim point
Horsham YM salvaged a point at home to AFC Varndeanians – despite going down to eight men in a flurry of cards and sin-binnings.
Bottom club Varndeanians were a potential banana skin, having only narrowly lost to runaway leaders Haywards Heath the previous week, and YM were relieved to salvage a point with a late goal after being two down well into the second half.
YM manager Liam Giles said: “That was very frustrating.”
YM had almost total first-half possession, but Varndeanians defended valiantly. Archie Alexander blazed over before a YM shot was cleared off the line and then a free kick curled past the post, before a cross skimmed the visitors’ goal and a Tom Lyons effort was too high.
A YM free kick and corner followed, the scrappy first half ending goal-less just after a Varndeanian set piece whizzed clear.
Resuming, a YM attack drew a good save from keeper Frazer Trigwell, but despite some promising build-up moves YM weren’t able to convert opportunities.
Then, just beyond the hour mark, Thomas Jupp put Varndeanians in front with a penalty.
Noel Fisher was a threatg as ever but couldn’t get YM back on level terms, and in the 73rd minute Jupp scored from the spot again, the decision at least looking more convincing than the first award.
Home persistence finally paid off, YM scoring through Sam Hards’ clean strike. Trigwell then had to be at his best to block a deflection, ahead of his advancing counterpart Harry Haines being sent off for a strong tackle.
Alfie Jones came off the bench to take over, with YM further reduced by sin-binning amid a flurry of cards.
With time fast evaporating, sub Tommy McKenna equalised in the 92nd minute, and YM might have snatched a win at the very end, but missed out from close range. They had an eighth corner but were unable to make it count.
Giles told the County Times: “We dropped two points really, but we did well to get a draw out of it in the end.”
Jones added: “They’re fighting for survival and sat back making it difficult for us when we were without three of our forwards.”
On Saturday, looking to re-group quickly to avenge an early season 1-6 defeat at home, YM, still third, travel to second-placed Steyning.