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HORSHAM YMCA 1 - 1 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 13th September 2008
FA Cup 1st qualifying round
Whyteleafe surrendered their slender lead to a stoppage time equaliser by a resilient Horsham YMCA in the late summer sunshine that bathed an immaculate playing surface.
Retaining their attacking formation, it was Leafe who dominated the first half with both Ronnie Green on the left and Paul Scott on the right providing plenty of fine crosses for the strike duo Denva McKenzie and Sean Rivers. On four minutes a fierce McKenzie shot was saved with his legs by keeper Tom Rand and soon after he comfortably dealt with a Rivers header from a Green cross. McKenzie was played through on eighteen minutes, but chose to pass across the area when shooting looked to be the better option.
It was young Leafe right back Asher Hudson who opened the scoring on 24 minutes, hitting a sweet shot with his left foot low into the corner of the net after fine work by Adam Broomhead. Horsham almost replied immediately, only a smart interception by Jason Goodchild in his own box preventing Ryan Bradley from firing home. Just before the break Goodchild hit a fierce drive from 30 yards that deflected off of McKenzie, with Rand doing well to adjust and save.
The second half was a very different story, the early warning sign for the visitors being a fierce drive brilliantly saved by in form keeper Rob Tolfrey. Tom Lawley tested Tolfrey again minutes later, his fine save rebounding to Shaheen Sadough who blazed over when well placed.
At the other end Sean Rivers raced through one on one with the keeper and appealed for a penalty as he fell in the box, but it was waived away. The hosts pressed for an equaliser, Tolfrey again alert to save a fierce Ransome drive. With the Whyteleafe players looking tired after a tough mid-week league game against Folkestone Invicta four days earlier and nerves were frayed as the clock ticked down. Horsham got the reward for their persistence in the 92nd minute when an unmarked Jack Hayward was left to head over Tolfrey into the empty goal from the edge of the area.
The teams must now replay at Whyteleafe on Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Hudson, McNamara, Reeve, Broomhead, Goodchild, Green, Smith, McKenzie (Kempster 70), Scott (Harris 63), Rivers (Greene 63). Subs not used: Riley, Kabonga.
NB. click on thumbnail for full size picture
pre-match |
Asher Hudson |
Ronnie points |
Goring Mead |
Robbie Smith |
Scotty grimace |
Jason Goodchild's |
Head down, eyes shut |
Sean Rivers |
YM's manager |
Denva McKenzie |
Ronnie Green |
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