Horsham YM confirm SCFL play-off spot – despite defeat at Peacehaven
There was good news and bad for Horsham YM at Peacehaven & Telscombe last Saturday – they were delighted to secure a coveted place in the play-offs, but regretted losing the game.
This was the fifth time the sides had met this campaign - YM beat P&T 1-0 in the league on the opening day of the season, then in the three following cup games, P&T knocked YM out of the Peter Bentley on penalties, before YM eliminated the seasiders out of both the Sussex Senior and RUR cups.
Coming into Saturday’s game, YM were fourth and P&T fifth, so a hard-fought close game was assured. On the day there was nothing to choose between the sides. A draw would probably have been a fair result, but P&T snatched it with a goal in added time.
A dangerous back pass enabled P&T’s Callum Edwards to grab the lead in the third minute with an unstoppable volley. Lewis Beebee then worried YM with a header only just adrift, but, eight minutes in YM equalised with a brilliant free kick curved round the wall by Jordan Maguire-Drew.
A golden YM opportunity went begging and after corners at either end, a YM cross was headed over and Sam Freeman had to bravely rush out twice to beat P&T forwards to the ball.
Shay Matthews was thwarted by home keeper James Broadbent, who also denied Adam Adam. Two late P&T corners followed, but the score remained 1-1 going into the break.
Both sides returned in attacking mode with chances coming and going at either end, until, in the 74th minute, a Harry Pollard own goal from a corner reinstated YM’s lead.
Broadbent charged out to instigate a breakaway, from which Ross Barclay scrambled the ball in to level the scores with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
YM’s hearts were broken when, in added time, Cameron Wiltshire scored from close range to give P&T all three points – with pleas for offside ignored.
After YM’s much more spirited display of late manager Liam Giles told the County Times: “That was very disappointing, but if you’d have offered me a play-off place last July I’d have bitten your hand off – we’ve got a seat at the top table so I’m delighted with that and it’s up to us to make the most of it.”
With two games left the current placings see Steyning lead, followed by Haywards Heath, with Guernsey third, YM fourth and Peacehaven fifth.
In the play-offs the second and third -placed teams have home ties, with the winners of each tie playing each other for the second promotion spot.
On Saturday YM have their final home game of the season, against Bexhill.