Horsham YM delivered their fifth win on the bounce on Saturday, and it was an important, dominant 4-0 home victory against high flying visitors Guernsey.

YM beat Guernsey in the Channel Islands four months ago and YM boss Liam Giles told the County Times: “It was a dream result for us to beat a strong team like Guernsey 4-0 – a real statement of intent.”

Despite recent downpours the pitch was in good condition with Guernsey enjoying early possession, but YM had the ball in the net in the first five minutes only for Richard Pingling to be adjudged to have fouled keeper Jordan Addison.

After the visitors blasted wide, headed off target and were awarded a corner, YM had two corners of their own before Noel Fisher’s good effort was denied by Addison, whose YM counterpart, Ryan Hammond, pulled off a low save.

Horsham YM and Guernsey in action | Picture by Chris Gregory

placeholder image — Horsham YM and Guernsey in action | Picture by Chris Gregory

YM wasted a free kick just outside the area but they were getting more shots on goal and just beyond the half hour mark, Fisher ran the length of the field to supply Jesse Sentamu for the lead. A poor finish prevented YM from going 2-0 up, and after corners at either end Jermaine Essien saw his close range shot, and the rebound saved by Addison.

Starting the second half a goal down, the Channel Islanders had two free kicks averted, then they fired adrift and failed to convert a golden opportunity in front of goal, before Shay Matthews covered a lot of ground to pass to Fisher to double YM’s advantage.

With 23 minutes of normal time remaining, Pingling collected the ball from a Guernsey attack to launch a breakaway culminating in a one on one encounter, resulting in YM’s third. Two minutes later Sentamu banged in a rebound for an unassailable four-goal cushion.

A late attempt was blocked and in the last minute the ball soared over the goal, but that mattered not, Giles saying: “Last week we felt we had plenty of goals in us, and the four we scored were all excellent. I’m off to Dubai until Friday and am delighted to set off relaxed!”

YM remain fourth, equal on points with Guernsey, but with a game in hand. Steyning remain top three points clear of Haywards Heath, who lost at Bexhill, but are two games behind.

On Saturday YM venture into East Sussex, looking to complete the double against upper table Eastbourne United.