Late goals see YM eventually see off a dogged Westfield in the RUR Cup

Horsham YMCA left it late to see off Division 2 outfit Westfield and progress into the third round of the RUR Cup, as two goals in the final ten minutes eventually capped a 5-3 win at Gorings Mead.

A first half Nick Sullivan brace either side of a Tom Gannon strike helped the hosts to a 3-2 lead at half time.

When the visitors levelled ten minutes after the restart they sensed a potential upset, only for a late James Day header and an Ashley Dugdale penalty to seal YM’s progression.

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YM were without a number of first choice players, which meant only a second first team start for 17 year old Gannon, and starting spots for Lee Wood and Day.

Despite the chances YM made another lightning start when a Sullivan shot from just outside the area found its way through the hands of Westfield goalkeeper Carl Morris and into the net.

The hosts were ahead for just a minute, however, as Matt Dadswell rifled the Parishoners levelled after the ball had come to him following an excellent Day block.

YM then lost Adam Hutchings to a knee injury midway through the half, but were soon ahead again when some neat work between Sullivan and Dave Brown saw the latter’s scuffed shot find Gannon, and he side footed home his first goal for the club.

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A superb breakaway move saw YM extend their lead just after the half hour mark, Kevin Burgess with an expertly weighted through ball to free Wood down the right and he squared for Sullivan to tap home his second of the game.

The hosts then had ‘keeper Sam Smith to thank for maintaining their two-goal cushion with two fine saves, though Westfield’s renewed confidence paid off when Clarke powered in a header from a corner.

And the visitors then drew level soon after the restart when a poor goal kick lead to Parris firing past Smith to make it 3-3.

Crane rattled the visitors’ post with a bullet header before Mike Booth wasted a golden opportunity to put Westfield ahead when he shot the wrong side of the post when clean through.

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And YM made them pay when a moment of quick thinking from brothers Dan and Nick Sullivan saw them combine at a short corner and though Nick’s snap shot was well saved Day bundled hom the rebound, and skipper Dugdale then coolly dispathched a late penalty to kill off any chance of another Westfield comeback.

YM (4-2-3-1): S. Smith, D. Sullivan, Burgess, Day (O’Carroll 83), Evans, Dugdale (c), Hutchings (Crane 22), Brown, Gannon, Wood (Bojang 70), N. Sullivan

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