Horsham YMCA 1 (1) v (0) 2 Godalming (Peter Bentley Cup)
for a Tuesday night trip to Horsham YMCA in the League Cup with the home team currently 6th in the Southern Combination Premier. Horsham, bar a couple of changes, chose very much the side that they had put out for their league match on Saturday. The Gees however, after some consistency in recent games, especially at the back, had to shuffle the pack and the cards were dealt out thus: Ollie Ballam returned in goal, Ishmaila Doumbia came in at centre back alongside Skipper Ollie McAleese, with Jack Sherwood moved to right back and Joshua Hill starting on the left. Rob Parrott returned to the side moving forward into a midfield with Nana Afful, Elroy Weathyland and Ellis Rowland, Ellis’ first start of the season. Bradley Fangas led the line with James Mansfield deeper in support. Three on the bench, Deji Alabi, Malik Shittu and (for use in emergency only) James Mariner.
Mr Tazlim Alli refereed the game, always a character, always with the prospect of a card or two being shown, and his first decision was to call foul on Rob Parrott’s challenge on the keeper from our free kick in the 2nd minute. Their keeper was next called on to win the race to the ball from Rob, aiming to pick up James’ through ball. Ollie got up to collect Horsham’s first cross into the box. The hosts tried a snapshot from some 35 yards out which flew narrowly past the post. We reached midpoint of the half, and the Horsham No. 11 broke through on our left. Ollie McAleese put in the challenge and received a dig in the ribs for his trouble, the forward was offside anyway, the Lino had spotted both offences. Cue the officials in discussion and cue a yellow card for No.11 and then one for Ollie; what is that quote by Shakespeare about protesting too much?
Godalming’s 1st corner arrived on 25 minutes, it was taken by Nana, and Rob was penalised in the box again. Up at our end Horsham won their 1st corner, Josh Hill saw it out for a 2nd corner which was taken by Ollie B. The next sortie forward by the home side was seen off by a fine tackle from Ish. James Mansfield tried his luck from distance, but his shot was deflected by a defender into the arms of the keeper. Fresh from the Olympic Pool a Horsham man saw yellow for an impressive dive, shortly after which it was then Rob’s turn to make his way into the book for a lively tackle. Entering ‘added time’ Horsham won a corner and took it short, the cross to the far post, just under the bar, was parried by Ollie but in the melee the ball crossed the line. 1-0. Just time for a Gees corner at the other end before the whistle blew. Although Godalming hadn’t dominated the 1st half and in truth hadn’t really created any clearcut chances, we were always ‘at the races’ so to go in a goal down was harsh.
No changes for Godalming at the turnaround and early doors Ollie McAleese slotted the ball through to Jack only to see him flagged offside, millimetres in it. The Gees were pressing further forward and causing some hesitation in the Horsham defence and midfield. Rob Parrott capitalised on just that sort of indecisiveness on 54 minutes, turning over a loose pass and forcing the ball into the net past the challenge from the advancing keeper. 1-1 and back in the tie. Shortly after the restart the keeper got down to claim the ball from the feet of Ellis who had looked to be offside collecting a pass from James. Rob won another midfield battle, spun the ball out to Bradley who played a 1-2 with Nana. With no other options on, Bradley’s shot found the keepers arms.
The game was beginning to open out and somewhat inevitability the Gees were conceding some of that ground they had occupied back in the early exchanges of the half. A Horsham man skipped two challenges, but Ollie B was equal to the shot that followed. Next attack and the other Ollie opted for safety first and a corner, clearing a dangerous looking ball over the bar. A smart run from Nana brought the 1st Gees corner of the half and before it could be taken Deji Alabi came on for Bradley Fangas. The corner on the near post was picked by Rob who won a 2nd corner which was cleared for a Godalming throw. Ollie Ballam held on to a volley fired in from the edge of the box. His ball out ended at the feet of Deji who beat two men and although being pushed out wide he put in a decent effort on goal which needed the keeper’s intervention. James Mansfield pounced on another loose Horsham pass; Nana picked up the forward ball but shot over the bar.
There was less than 15 minutes remaining when Malik Shittu came on for Ellis Rowland and still more defending for the Godalming back line to do as three successive corners were conceded but defended without incident. If some thoughts were turning to penalties at the end of the 90 minutes and to decide another cup tie, they were right, it was just the timing that was out. 4 minutes remained of ‘normal’ time and Godalming won a corner over on the left, the ball fell to Rob Parrott whose shot was handled in the box, decision – a penalty. It wasn’t a blatantly obvious handle, but it was not greatly disputed by Horsham either. Up stepped James Mansfield, then it was Jack Sherwood holding the ball and then finally it was with James Mansfield again, who put it away for 2-1. Bradley, off the park, or maybe because he came on to it, picked up a yellow card in the celebrations.
Play restarted and it didn’t take long for Nana to pick up our 4th yellow card for putting the ball in the net after being flagged offside. Meanwhile ‘added’ time in the half was clocking up, ending with at least 9 minutes in all. There were a couple of tight moments to be survived before the whistle. Something (ball, leg, head?) hit and rattled our near post from a corner and the very last action of the match had the Gees defend three further corners in succession with the Horsham No.1 up joining the attack. In a spot of light relief between it all Malik went down from a challenge and even with the presence of Physio Steve on the pitch Mazza absolutely was not going to be subbed on to be put at risk for Saturday, ‘age before beauty’ I think they call it.
Great effort all, but it’s time to park thoughts of Cups for a little while and think instead of bringing back 3 points from the trip to Mile Oak on Saturday.
COYG’s