Horsham YMCA go out of the Cup

The G’s came to the Herbert Direct Stadium on Tuesday night after a loss to Arundel in the Southern Combination League One. They started well and Afful and Fangas looked like the players to watch.

The first half was stop/start after some lively challenges and the referee had to dish out some bookings. YM came into the game as the half went on but didn’t really create any clear cut chances. Josh Neathey was the main outlet and was playing in-swinging balls into the box. These were well defended and it wasn’t until seven minutes into injury time that YM got their just deserts.

Josh Neathey took a short corner on the right, it was played back to him and he crossed it to the back post. A number of players went up for it, the G's keeper, Oliver Ballam fumbled the ball and right back Ben Chowney was in the right place to poke it in.

The away team, one step below the YMs came out in the second half and gave it a good go. YM were struggling to get their passing game going and the game was becoming scrappy. The management team had changed a few players around after the Horsham derby and it didn’t really click. Mitch Clark was doing his best in the centre of the pitch but YM couldn’t score the second goal to give them breathing space.

On 54 minutes there was some confusion at the back for YM and a back pass from the usually reliable Dan Evans to veteran keeper Mark Fox was played short and Rob Parrott slid in to score the equaliser for the G’s.

Neither side were creating any real chances and YM were trying their luck from distance. On the 86th minute the G’s played a hopeful ball forward and the referee Mr Price deemed it hit the arm of a defender. A penalty was awarded and the cunning Fox did his best to put James Mansfield off. The striker came forward and sent the keeper the wrong way to put the away team 2-1 up.

Godalming Town have got cup pedigree and won the Surrey Senior Cup in 2013 against Sutton United. YM threw everything at the G’s and had a string of corners but couldn’t find the equaliser.

The away team’s defence eventually held strong and saw the game out to claim a place in the last 16.

YM now have a run of three away games. This weekend they’re back in league action when they go to Crowborough Athletic.