Super Horsham YMCA smash sorry Shoreham for six in nine-goal thriller

Peter Buckland’s side moved to the top of the Division 1 standings for goals scored following the win, but the Mussels twice took the lead in the first half either side of a Dave Brown equaliser.

Nick Sullivan notched an important leveller to make it 2-2 just before the break, after which the visitors were blown away by three YM goals in 14 second half minutes.

The hosts’ sixth and a superb Shoreham consolation were added late on, but despite the three points YM manager Peter Buckland was left feeling somewhat frustrated.

He said: “What a bizarre game of football!

“We’ve just won a game 6-3 but I’m peeved that we’ve conceded three and annoyed that we only scored six to be honest.

“I know that must sound ridiculous, but I lost count of the number of gilt edged chances we missed. We could have had eight or nine easily.

“I suppose it is three points, but I just reminded the players that we’re now into the business end of the season and that we’ve got to turn up a lot better than that in our next game.”

After starting sharply, YM conceded completely against the run of play. Despite strong appeals for offside, Shoreham striker Alex Fair was freed with a simple ball over the top and he sweetly struck over an approaching Simon Lockwood to put the Mussels ahead.

But YM hit back with a wonderful solo effort from Dave Brown, as he beat two men on the left flank before marauding into the box and firing low into the net.

Shoreham re-took the lead when another attack down the right resulted in a free kick, and the cleverly taken set piece was laid off to defender John Buggy, whose scuffed strike was side footed home from six yards at the far post by Ebou Jallow.

The Mussels’ lead only lasted two minutes however, as just before the break an Ashley Dugdale header into the box was latched onto by Nick Sullivan and his clip over keeper Jordan Mitchell from a wide angle just dipped under the crossbar to make it 2-2.

YM flew out of the traps after the restart and should have taken the lead for the first time in the game after just 65 seconds, Brown’s shot fired at the legs of Mitchell.

The visitors’ keeper was put under more pressure a minute later when Sullivan chased down a lost cause and nicked the ball off the fumbling stopper, but YM failed to take advantage as substitute Craig Grantham could only blaze over with an open goal gaping.

It didn’t take long for Buckland’s side to put the game to bed, as three goals in the space of fourteen minutes quickly ended the fixture as a contest.

Brad Curtis’ persistence won him the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before he broke into the box and curled the ball into the far corner.

Two minutes later it was 4-2 as a neat breakaway move saw Brown feed Grantham, who squared for Sullivan to tap home his second. Grantham then turned goal scorer shortly after when he headed home a Dan Sullivan shot.

Hosts’ captain Dugdale put further daylight between the sides when he stroked a sweeping move home from twelve yards to make it 6-2, only for that deficit to be reduced to three once more, when Fair exquisitely volleyed home the goal of the game three minutes later.

YM: Lockwood, Carden, Burgess, Crane (Grantham 29), Evans, Dugdale, Hunter, D. Sullivan (Wood 72), N. Sullivan, B. Curtis (R. Curtis 72).