Horsham YMCA defeat 'unfortunate but enjoyable'

Jack Langford and Dan Bolwell’s second half strikes gave the visitors a two-goal advantage which they held on to until Jack Ryder grabbed a consolation in added time.

Miller said: “They’re a good side, we always have good games with them and Saturday was no different. It was hard.

“Unfortunately we had to pull back from two goals and left it a bit late, not scoring until the end.

“It was unfortunate but it was enjoyable. They were the better side and deserved it but if we’d had taken a couple of half-chances before they scored it might have been a different matter.”

After a slow start, the visitors came to life after seven minutes when Langford beat his man before crossing into Aaron Capon whose header whistled over the bar.

Langford was looking dangerous on the right and a nice move between him and Sam Cole saw Bolwell head over from close range.

Matt Daniel found himself through with a good chance but his shot was well saved by Chris Winterton in the Town goal.

There followed a moment of YM pressure where the ball was loose in the Town area.

Several players attempted a shot at goal but were blocked before the ball was eventually cleared.

Horsham YMCA sub Dean Lovegrove had only been on the pitch a few minutes when he felled Capon on the edge of the area and entered the referee Harry Woods’ book.

Bolwell took the free-kick which flew just over the YMCA crossbar.

As half-time approached a pinpoint one-two involving Cole and George Taggart saw Zac Attwood shoot wide from close-range.

Town started the second half brightly. The lively Langford found himself through on goal but he hit his effort straight at Aaron Jeal in the Horsham YMCA goal.

The away side were well on top at this point and Zac Attwood rattled Horsham YMCA’s crossbar. But Town’s pressure paid off just minutes later.

A lovely cross from Attwood found Langford who coolly slotted past Jeal to put Eastbourne Town ahead.

Two minutes later the ball appeared to hit the hand of Callum Donaghey from close-range but referee Wood ruled no penalty.

This was closely followed up by a Cole shot which hit the crossbar.

With 78 minutes on the clock, Bolwell seemed to wrap the match up for Eastbourne, doubling the score with a close-range shot.

With the match deep in injury time Winterton picked up a yellow card for a foul outside the area but Daniel’s free kick cleared the crossbar.

Horsham YMCA knocked in a consolation in stoppage time when Ryder struck past Winterton’s right to give the hosts a late goal with the last kick of the match.

Tuesday evening saw YM fall to a 3-2 defeat at second-from-bottom Hassocks.

YMCA went 2-0 up inside seven minutes but goals from former Gorings Mead favourites James Westlake and Phil Johnson drew the teams level.

George Galbraith-Gibbons’s strike at the death stole the points for the Robins.

YM visit leaders Lancing on Saturday.