YM crash out of the FA Cup as Robins chirp on

Horsham YMCA crashed out of the FA Cup as they lost 3-2 to fellow Division 1 rivals Hassocks at Gorings Mead on Saturday.
JPCT 190813 S13340953x Football. Horsham YMCA v Hassocks in the FA Cup at Gorings Mead   -photo by Steve CobbJPCT 190813 S13340953x Football. Horsham YMCA v Hassocks in the FA Cup at Gorings Mead   -photo by Steve Cobb
JPCT 190813 S13340953x Football. Horsham YMCA v Hassocks in the FA Cup at Gorings Mead -photo by Steve Cobb

An early Ashley Dugdale header provided YM with the perfect start, but two goals in the space of five first-half minutes turned the tie on its head to give the Robins a lead at the break.

The increasingly impressive Dave Brown levelled things for the hosts with 20 minutes left to play, and it looked as if an improving YM would go onto secure their place in the next round, only for Hassocks’ Jamie Hillwood to capitalise on an uncharacteristic mistake from captain Dugdale and fire home the winner.

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YM began brightly, Martin Smith racing to the by-line and crossing to Brown at the far post, who after beating his man saw a fierce shot well saved by Hassocks’ goalkeeper Alex Harris.

And it was from the resulting corner that the hosts took the lead, Dugdale steering Dan Sullivan’s in-swinging set piece past the helpless Robins ‘keeper at the near post.

The hosts were only briefly in front however, as ten minutes later a floated Chris Maynard free kick wasn’t dealt with by the YM back line and defender Nick Pitcher hooked home a Hassocks equaliser.

And four minutes later the visitors had taken the lead, Anthony Hibbert crossing for striker Nathan Miles to fire home at the near post.

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Hassocks should have extended their lead two minutes after the break, but Hillwood could only rattle the crossbar from just eight yards.

YM then found a foot hold in the game and began creating chances, Smith twice seeing strikes deflected wide of the upright, before registering two bold claims for a spot kick. Smith appeared to be brought down in the box before a shot appeared to hit a defender’s hand.

The turned down appeals seemed immaterial when, just minutes later Liam Hunter’s flicked header found Smith, whose cross came to Brown, skipped past his man before driving the ball low into the far corner.

YM were on top, though Hibbert’s shot just wide came as a warning sign and two minutes later Dugdale sloppily gave the ball away and the visitors quickly countered, Miles feeding the ball to Hillwood, who out-muscled his marker before firing home.

YM (4-2-3-1): S Smith, Sullivan, O’Carroll, Burgess, Evans (Cox 85), Dugdale, Hunter, D Brown, B. Curtis (Symons 61), Wood (Thomas 75), M. Smith.