AFC Hayes (1) 4, Guildford City (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City’s rollercoaster of a season continued at Farm Park on Saturday with a disappointing performance against AFC Hayes. Off the back of an exciting Surrey Cup win in midweek more was expected from the visitors, but sadly on the day too many players were below par, and in the second-half especially City were too often second to loose balls and to react and Hayes thoroughly deserved their victory. It was a damp, dank day with a heavy mist and somehow that seemed the right setting for City’s fairly dismal performance. To be fair City were only one goal down at the interval and they did have chances, although Hayes liveliness up front was a constant threat to the City defence. Bobby Dormer and Leon Lalor-Dell both had shots from outside the box saved, and on 14 minutes Jacob Lambe laid the ball off to Lee Hall whose precise effort sailed wide. The game’s opening goal came ten minutes later when from a deep free-kick Austin Schofield rose unchallenged at the far post to direct a looping header into the far corner. Almost immediately City could have equalised. Jacob Lambe won possession wide out by the corner flag and cutting in he chose to shoot from an acute angle, much to the frustration of Kiye Martin who was unmarked in the middle. Minutes before the interval home keeper Cameron Kennedy brilliantly saved a point blank header from Jacob Lambe, and so at the interval , although second best, City were very much still in the game.
Any hopes of City raising their performance in the second period were dashed within five minutes when Dan McDonnell smashed home a penalty after a foul in the box by Alex Rose. The score line extended further on 55 minutes when Rhys Rabess found his way past several defenders on the right and shot low past Badiali. Shortly after Dan Akinwande brilliantly headed off his own line and Hayes were rampant. The home side were quicker and more alert and it was no surprise when they scored the fourth after 67 minutes. The introduction of Tom Booth with 20 minutes to go did raise City’s game and the visitors “enjoyed” a decent spell in the late stages. Booth himself had a shot parried by Kennedy, and as the game entered stoppage time Shawn Lyle fired home from the edge of the box for a consolation goal which was enthusiastically received by the Sweeney behind the goal.
Team: Luke Badiali, Suleiman Djalo (Shawn Lyle 50), Alex Rose (Terence Cariba 61), Greg Haydon, Darryl Siaw, Dan Akinwande, Lee Hall, Bobby Dormer, Jacob Lambe, Leon Lalor-Dell, Kiye Martin (Tom Booth 70).
Referee: Marlon Williams
Attendance – 29
