Horsham YMCA produce perfect response at Eastbourne after two defeats

Horsham YMCA's Dave Brown in action against Haywards Heath on Saturday. Picture by Grahame Lehkyj

The visitors went into the game on the back of two 4-1 Premier Division defeats at the hands of Newhaven and Haywards Heath Town.

It was vital YM put in a better shift ahead of their crucial FA Vase third-round tie with Buckland Athletic on Saturday.

That they did with a 1-1 draw at The Saffrons. Dan Evans slotted the visitors ahead in the 40th-minute, only for Town to hit an equaliser through Jason Taylor with eight minutes left to play.

Buckland said: “The performance was as important as the result. The lads put a fantastic shift in and it was a great performance. It was not just from my perspective that we thoroughly deserved to win the game.

“It was the perfect response after the past two games and just what was needed. I have a good feeling about the FA Vase now. It was a good showing all-round, so much so that I could not pick a man of the match. Everyone was on it and Eastbourne Town are a decent team as well, especially down there.”

YM took the lead just before half-time as Evans finished from a Nick Sullivan cross to the near-post after a good passing move.

The visitors felt they should have had a second after the break, but Dave Brown’s effort on 75 minutes from another Sullivan cross was adjudged not to have crossed the line.

Eight minutes later the hosts profited from a slip from Charlie Cook and the ball was squared to Taylor for a tap-in.

Buckland added: “We should have had a second as it was a clear goal and well over the line when the keeper scooped it out, but these things happen.”

Horsham YMCA: Smith, Carden, Gathern, Cooke, Harding, Buchanan, Sullivan, Dugdale, Brown, Evans, Schaaf. Subs: Howell, Gibson, Shipton.

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