With just four days to go until Christmas, the YM fans were given an early present with a well deserved victory over The Stags.
The pitch at the Herbert Direct Stadium was wet and boggy but the ground staff worked miracles to make sure the game was on.

With this being the first match at home for Liam Giles he was delighted with the three points. The team was set up to attack, with the wide midfielders given the opportunity to drive forward and pop up at the back post to give the away team a headache.

Giles expects a lot from the team and it was good to see that fitness levels had improved. This group of players were strangers two weeks ago and they are willing to work their socks off for the team.

YM could have scored within the first minute, as a at the back for Midhurst and Easebourne left their goalkeeper out of position but YM just missed the target. The young Sam Henderson was full of energy down the right for YM, his no nonsense defending and willingness to make countless runs forward was impressive. His secret weapon; the throw in, was powerful, like a heat missile searching for its target.

The game was fairly scrappy with limited goal opportunities. On 25 minutes YM had a free kick on the left, a long ball was played into the box by Liam Avery, the Stags defenders let the ball bounce and it flew past the keeper and into the net for the opening goal.

Alex Barbary was busy on the right making overlapping runs and driving the ball into the box for YM, Dan Burbulis then doubled the lead for YM on the 55 minute. He received the ball on the left side of the box, dribbled it inside and blasted the ball past defenders and Harry Adey in goal.

Midhurst and Easebourne had a few chances but nothing to worry Fudamaje in goal. Former Bosham striker, Lewis Rustell was lively but it wasn’t his day in front of goal.

On the 74th minute, YM made it 3-0. Substitute, Athan Smith-Joseph scored a cracker, he found the ball near the penalty spot and smashed it past Adey. At 3 nil both teams made further substitutions but the game concluded without any more goals.
Charlie Martin had an excellent game but the Man of the Match award went to goal scorer Liam Avery for his excellent performance in midfield.

After the match, Liam Giles said,
“I’m buzzing, we’ve worked extremely hard as a group. We’ve trained Tuesday and Thursday and on Thursday it was the first time we got on a full size pitch.  We were able to work on our shape. There’s a lot more to work on but I’m delighted”.

Next up, Horsham YMCA host Loxwood on Monday night and travel to Petersfield Town on Boxing Day, Midhurst and Easebourne are at home to the aforementioned Petersfield Town on Boxing Day.