Goal-getters Horsham YMCA draw a blank in feisty stalemate

After 9-0 and 6-0 wins over Hailsham Town and Worthing United in their last two respective home league outings, YM were faced with a much more heated affair on Tuesday, with three players in the end sent off by referee Craig Cox.

The visitors’ Harry Farmer was dismissed at the end of the first half for a second bookable offence, before YM’s Liam Hunter was also shown a second yellow and Rangers defender Dan O’Farrell a straight red, deep into injury time.

YM manager Peter Buckland commented: “It was all a bit heated and handbags in the end, but I’m very disappointed with our performance. It was as disjointed as we’ve played all season.

“It wasn’t a good display, particularly after two such fluid performances at home. We just didn’t get to grips with the tempo of the game from beginning to end. I smelt a 0-0 from ten or fifteen minutes in.”

Suburban team defender James Day, making his first start had the host’s first chance but poked a free kick tamely at the St Francis keeper.

Rangers had a goal disallowed for offside before Day cleared a Farmer effort off the line, before the striker was dismissed for a mistimed tackle.

Hunter had a shot saved and Craig Grantham clipped the follow up just wide, and in the second half the visitors, with a man down defended with men behind the ball.

The hosts struggled to make the host of their numerical advantage, though chances were missed from Grantham, Hunter and Lee Thomas in added time, while at the other end Pitcher dragged wide.

There was still time for the referee to show Hunter a second yellow, before the fixture descended into chaos in the fifth minute of injury time when Rangers defender O’Farrell appeared to lash out and saw red.

YM now host newly promoted Newhaven at Gorings Mead on Saturday.

YM (4-2-3-1): S. Smith, D. Sullivan, Burgess, Day, Evans (Gannon 88), Hutchings (Thomas 65), Dugdale (c), Hunter, Curtis, Brown, Grantham (Greig 65).