First win of the season for Horsham YMCA

Despite the seemingly close score line, the result failed to reflect the true picture of a game totally dominated by the hosts.

YM’s wastefulness saw them spurn more than 20 attempts on goal, but in the end the two efforts that did find the net were enough to ensure victory, in spite of a late Ringmer rally.

Full-back Dan Evans opened the scoring after just two minutes, drilling home after being slid through by Dave Brown, before the impressive YM wide man went from supplier to goalscorer, as he doubled YM’s advantage on his home debut mid-way through the second half.

A late Ben Watkinson header for the Blues ensured a nervous few minutes of injury time, but the hosts eventually held on for a deserved three points.

YM manager Peter Buckland said: “To be honest, I’m disappointed. We should have easily been 5-0 up by half time, but we weren’t because of bad finishing, and that’s something we’re going to have to work on.

“We’re nearly achieving what we’re trying to set out to do, which is pass and move and keep the ball. We’re doing that just fine across the back and in the midfield, but that composure and match winning pass or finish just wasn’t there tonight.

“Having said that, we did play a lot more football than what you would have seen from most of last season. Our ball retention was good and we’ve got a big squad with which we are still experimenting.”

And Buckland added: “Overall, a win is a win and we’ve got the points which we definitely deserved. The score line makes it look a lot closer than what it was.”

YM now face fellow Division 1 rivals Hassocks in FA Cup action at Gorings Mead on Saturday, with the winner progressing on to play either Dorking Wanderers or Canterbury City in the Preliminary Round on Saturday August 31.

YM (4-2-3-1): S Smith, Sullivan, O’Carroll (Crane 64), Burgess, Evans, Dugdale (c), Miller, Brown, Hunter (R. Curtis 66), Wood, M Smith (Grantham 70).