YMCA fall to defeat – mixed week for Bears – Steyning hit six

Horsham YMCA 0 Crowborough Ath 2

SCFL Premier

At their Gorings Mead home last Saturday, Horsham YMCA hoped to return to winning ways against Crowborough Athletic, one below them in the table at the kick-off.

But, again YM were disappointed despite creating unconverted opportunities, with the visitors going on to win 2-0.

YM earned two early corners, but, as has been the recent case, Aaron Jeal in the home goal was kept busy, fortunately Crowborough not proving too testing in the early skirmishes.

Playing his 402nd game for YM, captain Ashley Dugdale blazed over, before the Crows’ Lucas Murrain took advantage of lax YM defending with a scrappy goal midway through the half.

Responding, YM were awarded another corner, but Tom Tolfrey’s strike was too high.

Crowborough also fired over, only to make amends in the 35th minute when, with YM open at the back, Tiago Andrade capitalised from a close quarters one on one chance.

YM kept pushing, however Josh Neathey’s powerful long range free kick was palmed away by keeper Cameron Hall.

In the goalless second half YM had two more corners and plenty of possession, but remained unable to finish, while Crowborough were equally off target, Jeal’s positioning having been spot on throughout the game.

YM manager Dean Carden told the County Times: “We need to get better at winning and keeping the ball. Our injuries have stretched us and I’m looking to fill some gaps with a couple of strategic signings.”

This Saturday YM, now 12th, travel to Brighton’s Withdean Stadium to visit AFC Varndeanians, before returning to home league action against current leaders Crawley Down Gatwick next Tuesday.

Newhaven 0 Broadbridge Heath 1

SCFL Premier

Two of the top three in the SCFL Premier clashed at Fort Road with third-placed Broadbridge Heath coming out on top away to leaders Newhaven – who were on a run of eight league matches unbeaten.

With strikers Jamie Taylor, Mason Doughty, Charlie Parmiter and Renato Carvalho all unavailable Heath manager Chris Simmons brought in ex-Horsham YMCA and Burgess Hill striker Alex Barbary to partner Lewis Croal and Sam Lemon up front on the new 3G surface.

The game didn’t live up to pre-match expectations with both sides struggling to get any real fluency, the hosts only having one notable shot on goal in the entire match.

That came midway through the half when Alfie Rogers drilled a low free kick straight to the arms of Liam Matthews, who gathered comfortably.

Heath’s best chance of the half came in injury time when a cross from the left to the far post was headed goalwards by Ryan Brackpool, forcing Newhaven keeper Jake Buss to make a good save low to his left.

Heath players appealed that the ball had crossed the line but both officials were unsighted.

Heath started the second half better and the pendulum swung in their favour ten minutes after the restart when Alex Plummer’s late challenge on Louie Evans saw the defender pick up his second caution and a red card – and the Dockers were down to ten.

Despite the extra man chances were hard to come by with Heath having more possession, but the hosts looked dangerous on the break, especially with prolific goalscorer Lee Robinson a danger.

The only goal was scored midway through the half when Lewis Croal picked up the ball in his own half, advanced to the halfway line before playing an inch perfect pass, dissecting the Newhaven defence, allowing Evans to run though on goal.

With the keeper rushing off his line, the midfielder played an early left foot shot wide of Buss into the bottom corner to earn his team the points that saw them move above their hosts into second place.

Broadbridge Heath boss Simmons said: “It wasn’t a great game or a great performance by us but we have a lot more steel and fight about us this season.

"I think in the end we did enough to deserve the three points, it was great to see Louis Evans back from Injury, we just need all the others now!”

Peacehaven & Tels 2 Broadbridge Heath 0

Sussex SC R1

Late arrival at Peacehaven was followed by a Sussex Senior Cup defeat for Broadbridge Heath – but boss Chris Simmons admitted the best side won.

A long trek on a Tuesday night was always going to be tough but their preparations were not helped when more than half the starting line-up arrived only 25 minutes before kick-off because of roadworks and traffic jams.

Simmons said: “Having players arrive 25 minutes before kick-off is always going to be difficult but that’s no excuse.

"We were poor, Peacehaven outworked us and played better than us so fully deserved the win.”

Heath made five changes to the side that won at Newhaven on Saturday, but didn’t start well, and after only three minutes were a goal down when a long ball forward caught out the back line.

On 14 minutes a long cross shot from Jack Frankland hit the Haven crossbar, then on 37 minutes a slip in midfield allowed Haven to break and a shot from the edge of the box flew in to make it 2-0.

The only other real Heath opportunity was a tight offside call on 40 minutes as the first half came to an end. The second half was a much more even affair with neither side creating much.

Next up for the second-placed Bears is a home SCFL premier game against Eastbourne Town on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the Sussex Senior Cup, Loxwood lost 2-1 at home to Eastbourne United and Steyning beat Pagham 2-0.

Saltdean 0 Steyning 6

SCFL Premier

It’s eight wins in a row, 31 goals scored, seven conceded for Steyning as the feelgood factor grows at The Shooting Field.

They’re keeping their feet on the ground but competition for places is high and there is a good buzz around the team as they rise to fourth in the table.

It was ultimately a very comfortable win at Saltdean; but Steyning were very sloppy in the first ten minutes and were indebted to Lucas Szendela Goetzke. After that it was pretty much one-way traffic.

Josh Bradley and Dominic Johnson-Fisher were causing havoc to the full-backs all afternoon and Town were finding pockets of space all over the place in the final third.

The scoring got under way as centre back Nathan Da Costa bundled home on 19 minutes as a Jack Langford free kick was spilled by James in the Saltdean goal.

Soon after Bradley made it two, finishing after a mazy Johnson-Fisher run.

Saltdean were starting to lose their discipline and the first of two visits to the sin bin came shortly before half-time.

The second half was a few minutes old when Da Costa volleyed home a second from close range after a good free kick from MoM Jack Barnes.

Langford bundled home a fourth after rounding the keeper and Saltdean skipper Ryan Paul was sinned binned for dissent towards the officials.

Johnson-Fisher got in on the act with a fine solo goal.

The final goal came on 65 minutes as Langford finished off a flowing move with a low strike from 18 yards to make it ten goals in six games.

JUNIORS

A stunning second half performance from Roffey Robins Atletico under-14s sealed their place in the second round of the Horsham & District Youth League Cup at the expense of Ashurst Wood.

Atletico took the lead in the fifth minute, with Aaron Woodhams latching on to a Romario Moratalla through ball, forcing the keeper into a save, with the ball rebounding to Michael Gomes who buried it.

Ashurst Wood equalised but couldn’t break down the Atletico defence again, marshalled well by a new centre back pairing of Dan Klamm and Moratalla.

In the second half Luca Harris made it 2-1 and Harris quickly netted the third, following neat midfield play from Dan Campbell.

Harley Quy made Atletico’s fourth and Gomes’ second.

Manager Ricardo Moratalla said: “At half-time I encouraged the team to play with confidence, to pass and move and play the quality football that I know they are capable of.”