Last-minute winner knocks Horsham YMCA out of FA Cup

Horsham YMCA's Phil Johnson in action SUS-160428-163250002

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Horsham YMCA bowed out of the FA Cup when they let slip a half-time led before losing 3-2 at home to Kent club Hollands and Blair.

YM took the lead three minutes before half-time courtesy of a Sam Schaaf header.

The home side missed two good chances to extend their lead during the second half before Hollands scored twice in five minutes with goals by James MacDonald and Rob Denness, from the penalty spot.

YM fought back to level terms with with another penalty, netted by Brad Curtis.

Finally Hollands scored a 90th minute winner by Lee Armstrong to book their place in the next round.

YM’s Martin Smith had the first chance from either side, having a decent shot blocked by Hollands’ keeper Tom Benham.

The visitors then dominated most of the next half hour, as YM’s keeper Mark Fox was brought into action to keep out efforts by Jack Simon and Louis Valencia.

Hollands kept looking threatening when they attacked and McDonald was impressive as he received a ball from the left from Louis Valencia, cut inside and fired narrowly wide.

YM gradually got themselves into the game in the last ten minutes before half-time and took the lead three minutes before the break when Schaaf headed in from short-range Dave Brown’s corner kick.

YMCA started the second half the stronger with Schaaf having a short turned around for a corner by the keeper.

Schaaf then missed a golden opportunity to extend YM’s lead when he blasted a shot narrowly over the bar on the rebound after Smith’s initial shot was parried by keeper Tom Benham.

But Hollands equalised against the run of play when Louis Valencia got into good space on the left and teed up McDonald who turned and scored from inside the area.

YM skipper Ashley Dugdale brought down an opponent in the area which ledt to the visitors taking the lead with 22 minutes to go from the penalty spot, put away powerfully by Rob Denness.

YM regained the lead just two minutes later, also from the penalty spot, scored off the right post right-footed by Curtis after Nick Sullivan was fouled in the pnealty area.

Hollands and Blair scored a last minute winner when a cornrer was crossed and the ball was bundled in from close-range by Armstrong from a goalmouth scramble.

Horsham YMCA: Fox, Carden, Harding, Gathern, Gilbert, Cooke (Johnson 83), Curtis, Dugdale (capt), Schaff, Smith (D.Sullivan 70), D.Brown

SUBS: N Sullivan, Crane, Simpson, Wright, Burgess

Hollands & Blair: Benham, Adgie (Armstrong 46), A’Court, Staff, B.Brown (capt), Blake, Taylor, Simon (Hadley 60), McDonald (Gutridge 90), Denness, Valencia

Subs: Armstrong, Greenfield

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