Powerful Eastbourne Town edge out Horsham YMCA

Horsham YMCA arrived at The Saffrons to face Eastbourne Town hoping to continue their improved recent league form and pull off their first league double of the season, but after competing throughout, they were shaded by the odd goal in five against one of the most powerful squads in the division.
By Tim Hewlett
Published 21st Dec 2020, 09:15 BST
Updated 21st Dec 2020, 12:02 BST

On a bright afternoon, on an excellent playing surface, the match started at a brisk pace with the home side causing YM a number of problems with a series of swift attacks, mainly down the YM right.

On eight minutes, YM keeper Aaron Jeal parried a fierce shot, only for Nathan Crabb to follow up and score. Worse was to follow two minutes later as YM Centre-half Stephen Smith was sin binned on his YM debut. YM then endured a rocky 10-minute spell as they looked to contain the home side's attacks while being a player short.

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However, with parity in numbers restored, YM began to claw their way back into the match and on 29 minutes, in a superb piece of opportunism, Alex Barbary took the ball from a home side defender and then burst through on his own to beat the Eastbourne keeper to equalise. YM had the better of the remainder of the half, in which they created two excellent chances to put YM ahead, but had to be content with the scores level at the interval.

As in the first half, the home side, began the second briskly, opening up a 3-1 lead in the first seven minutes from the re-start as first George Taggart and then Dan Perry capitalised on defensive lapses to seemingly finish the match as a contest. However, showing commendable spirit, YM refused to give up, reducing the arrears when Ben Bacon scored from the penalty spot on 63 minutes.

Thereafter YM had a number of chances to share the points, but were unable to find the net, and in a scrappy last few minutes, Smith was shown two yellows, resulting in a red card in injury time.

Overall, YM contested well against one of the top sides in the SCFL and were perhaps a touch unlucky not to leave Eastbourne with a point.

On Boxing Day YM return to Gorings Mead for an always challenging local derby against Broadbridge Heath (11am). Eastbourne Town visit neighbours Eastbourne United Association.