East Grinstead Town Suffer Heavy Defeat To Horsham U14

East Grinstead Town faced a challenging away fixture against Horsham U14 on 15 December 2024, with the match taking place at the Horsham U12 venue. The encounter, which kicked off at 10:00 am, ended in a disappointing 1-7 defeat for East Grinstead Town, leaving them with much to ponder as they reflect on their performance.

East Grinstead Town adopted a 4-4-2 formation, which saw Josh Goody stationed in goal, while a defensive line comprised of Mason Terry on the right, Bobby Lindsay and Charlie Walton in central defence, and Tommy Clarabut on the left aimed to provide stability at the back. In midfield, Max Dodson and Mason Malone operated on the right and left flanks respectively, with Toby Broughton and Adam Bannister anchoring the centre. Up front, Haydon Davis and Tom Piper were tasked with leading the attack, looking to convert any opportunities that came their way.

The substitutes for East Grinstead Town included Tim Greenyner and Dexter Sudbury, who would be called upon later in the match as tactical changes were made.

The match began with a flurry of activity, and it was Horsham U14 who struck first, scoring in the 6th minute from close range inside the box. This early goal set the tone for the match, as East Grinstead Town struggled to find their rhythm. Just six minutes later, Horsham capitalised on a defensive mistake, doubling their lead in the 12th minute and leaving East Grinstead Town in a precarious position.

Despite the early setbacks, East Grinstead Town managed to pull one back in the 20th minute. Toby Broughton found the net with a stunning direct free-kick from outside the box, assisted by Haydon Davis. This goal briefly ignited hopes of a comeback, but the joy was short-lived as Horsham quickly reasserted their dominance.

As the match progressed, East Grinstead Town made a tactical substitution in the 35th minute, bringing on Tim Greenyner for Mason Terry. The change aimed to bolster their defensive efforts, but the impact was minimal as the first half concluded with Horsham firmly in control.

The second half saw further changes for East Grinstead Town, with Dexter Sudbury replacing Toby Broughton in the 40th minute. However, the Horsham side continued to apply pressure, and their relentless attack resulted in several more goals, ultimately leading to a staggering 7-1 scoreline.

East Grinstead Town will need to regroup and reassess their strategies following this heavy defeat, as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures. The performance against Horsham U14 highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in defence and maintaining composure under pressure.