Leatherhead 2 Horsham YMCA 6
(Francis, Simpson) (Dodds
2, Gedling, Manton 2,
Leatherhead’s eagerly awaited
return to action quickly became a night to forget, as they were hit for six by
Horsham YMCA.
Some abject defending, coupled
with some woeful finishing up front, were not helped by a referee who
continually turned a blind eye to some full blooded challenges that clearly
upset the equilibrium of the home side.
The Tanners’ first match
after an enforced three and a half week lay off began untidily with neither
side able to create even half a chance in the opening fifteen minutes.
But Leatherhead went ahead
after 18 minutes when Adam Goodwell pumped a high
ball into the visitors’ area. Leon Simpson out jumped the YM keeper, but could
only head the ball out wide to the edge of the box where an unmarked Matt
Francis calmly stroked the ball home.
YM hit back quickly. Mat Geard split the Tanners defence and found Terry Dodds in acres of space to fire home an equaliser after 22
minutes.
Leatherhead nearly restored
their lead immediately when a long range effort from Mark Simmons was skilfully
pushed over by Tony Di Bernardo in the visitors’ goal. At the other end YM’s Tom Manton was allowed to run through the middle
unchallenged before forcing a save from Leatherhead keeper Colin Harris.
Horsham YMCA grew in
confidence, attacking at will, as the Tanners defence offered little
resistance. Dodds broke away from his marker and
attempted to lob Harris from the edge of the box, but his effort crept over the
bar.
The visitors eventually took
the lead from a corner after 35 minutes. The ball found Luke Gedling in the box
who swivelled around before rifling a left foot shot past Harris.
YM nearly added a third when a
Goodwell slip put Dodds
through on goal. But the YM forward’s first touch let him down and Harris bravely
collected the ball at his feet.
The visitors increased their
lead after 44 minutes when poor marking let Mike Huckett
go unchallenged before a final pass allowed Tom Manton to finish with ease.
Leatherhead had a strong
penalty appeal waved away just before half time when Tommy Hutchings appeared
to be bundled over in the box.
Leatherhead fell further
behind at the start of the second half. Dodds took
the ball past Iain Hendry in the Tanners’ penalty area and squared a pass for
Manton to fire home from five yards.
Tanners pulled a goal back on
56 minutes, as Josh Smith made a rare break down the right and delivered the
ball into the six yard box for Simpson to tap the ball home.
Leatherhead brought on
Michael Corbett in place of Hendry in defence and then Francis was replaced by
Marc Elston in an attacking midfield role.
But YM added a fifth goal after
67 minutes. A corner from John Wescott looped over
the head of Simpson to land at the feet of Dodds who
stroked the ball home unchallenged.
Dominic O’Shea replaced
Simpson for the final twenty minutes, but the visitors were in no mood to relax
their pressure on the Tanners’ defence. Their sixth goal was probably the best
of the night, as a string of passes eventually found Neil Watts unmarked in the
Leatherhead box, who fired past Harris to complete the
rout.
Hutchings and Elston continued to push forward in an attempt to salvage
some pride for the home side but there was little disguising that this was the
poorest Tanners performance by a long way this season and their worst defeat at
Fetcham Grove for more than nine years.
Leatherhead:
Colin Harris, Jon Coke, Adam Goodwell, Chris Boulter, Iain Hendry (Michael Corbett), Dan Dean, Josh
Smith, Mark Simmons, Leon Simpson (Dominic O’Shea), Tommy Hutchings, Matt Francish (Marc Elston).
Horsham YMCA:
Tony Di Bernado, Neil Watts, Nigel Brake, Luke Gedling,
Drew Cooney (Charlie Cooke), Steve Metcalf, John Wescott,
Mike Huckett (Mark Pulling), Terry Dodds, Tom Manton, Mat Geard
(Gavin Geddes)
Match Report by Rod Ellis