Horsham YMCA bow out of FA Vase - Broadbridge pick up vital league victory

There were contrasting fortunes for Horsham YMCA and Broadbridge Heath at the weekend. Here are the reports from both camps...
Action from Horsham YMCA's cruel Vase defeat at Sheerwater / Picture: Tim HewlettAction from Horsham YMCA's cruel Vase defeat at Sheerwater / Picture: Tim Hewlett
Action from Horsham YMCA's cruel Vase defeat at Sheerwater / Picture: Tim Hewlett

FA Vase - Sheerwater 2 Horsham YMCA 1

In the dying moments of the game heartbroken Horsham YMCA saw Sheerwater squeak through in the FA Vase at Surrey’s Laithwaite Community Stadium last Saturday. YM had grabbed an early lead and retained it for almost an hour and a half, only for two almost posthumous goals in the dramatic finale to eliminate them from the competition

YM went ahead in the 9th minute when a defensive error enabled Jack Ryder to tap in from a corner. But, it took some outstanding goal keeping from YM’s Aaron Jeal to keep the hosts at bay. YM, though, had their moments with pressure from Will Read forcing a corner, until, despite a surge from the hosts, the first half ended with YM a goal up

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Resuming, calls for a YM penalty went unheeded and a long range effort was palmed away by Sheer’s keeper. Yet, YM also had to be vigilant in defence with keeper Jeal – voted visiting Man of the Match by Sheer and rewarded with a bottle of bubbly from them, a much appreciated sporting gesture – continuing to impress - and appearing to have secured a win for the visitors with a great performance.

With Sheer seemingly going out, over came a cross from substitute George Dore, with Ashley Hitchinson rising to head home the equaliser on 88 minutes.

YM pushed hard for a winner, with Sheer striving for the same in the tense final minutes, until, with a penalty shootout beckoning, the Surrey side twisted the knife on 95 minutes when substitute Brad Pegg lofted a ball to the edge of the YM box with Jeal and Kieran Campbell competing. To YM’s despair, home MOM Campbell managed to make contact, heading in the dramatic winner to steal the tie

On Tuesday YM are in Sussex Senior Cup action against Selsey, before hitting the road again on Saturday with a trip to Little Common in the league

Broadbridge Heath 1 Hassocks 0

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Continuing to recover from their disappointing start to the season, Heath notched up an entertaining home win, their third success on the bounce, on Saturday to move out of the SCFL premier division relegation zone, halting mid table Hassocks’ run of back to back successes.

A good crowd saw Heath make the early running with skipper Lewis Croal covering much ground to examine Charlie Pugh in the visiting goal. Then Croal sent over a pinpoint cross to Conor Smith with a Heath corner resulting, before Charlie Parminter’s free kick induced an impressive save from Pugh. Next, Parminter and Croal combined, but the excellent strike whistled just past the far post. Heath maintained pressure, but Jamie Taylor fired well over, as did Jamie Robinson following a Heath corner.

Heath were not having it all their own way, but Hassocks’ centre forward Charlie Pitcher’s set piece was safely gathered by Liam Matthews in the home goal, Pugh also making short work of a Heath free kick. Heath had plenty of possession and created chances, but the first half ended goal-less, despite another Heath corner

Hassocks began brightly on resumption, but Matthews was not fully tested, with Taylor threatening but finding the side netting at the other end. Hassocks kept pushing, but were off target, and, just ahead of Taylor blazing over, Smith was sent off for his duo of yellow cards, the fifth time Heath had been so deprived this early in the season, again leaving them to play most of the second half with ten men.

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Heath, though, continued positively, earning another corner when Taylor’s shot was tipped round the post by the diving Pugh. Hassocks wasted a free kick and then squandered a golden opportunity when they were awarded a penalty, only for the burly Pitcher to see his attempt saved by Matthews at full stretch low to his left

Two subsequent Heath corners came to nothing, ahead of Croal’s breakthrough narrowly avoiding putting Heath in front, but, a minute into extra time, Heath thought they had scored when Pugh spilled the ball into his own net, however the goal was disallowed for a foul on the much relieved keeper.

But, Pugh’s reprieve was short-lived when a botched clearance was collected by Taylor, who unleashed a long range volley over the keeper’s head and into the vacant goal. Heath finished strongly, a last gasp free kick going begging, but they had done enough to bag three prized points.

Heath have a game at Alfold on Tuesday, and then a home fixture verus Langney Wanderers on Saturday.

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