Badshot Lea (0) 1, Guildford City (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Once again Guildford City will have departed after the match rueing their inability to make the most of numerous goal scoring opportunities. When Tom Bingham put City ahead in the 88th minute it seemed as if the visitors would gain just reward for their efforts. Then in the fifth minute of stoppage time the unlikely figure of substitute Luke Wheeler stepped up to curl a free-kick round the wall and into the top corner for a dramatic equaliser. Guildford opened the match in confident fashion and Evan Lopes forced Brendan Norris into an early save. Although the visitors had much of the possession it wasn’t all one way traffic. Indeed powerful forward Benga Ogunseye smashed a powerful effort goal ward but Kallum Lunn was equal to the task making a comfortable save. Guildford spent considerable time attacking down both flanks with Darryl Siaw in particular getting into advanced positions without finding that all important vital last pass. On the half hour Evan Lopes cut in from the right and smashed a shot from an angle against the top of the post. A minute later a great touch from Tom Bingham gave him space to drill a ball into the box but ex-City defender Chad Goulter got across to make a vital block.
The second-half followed the pattern of the first with City having the better of the play and of the chances without gaining reward. Bobby Dormer, in possibly his best performance in a City shirt, ran strongly forward before crossing low into the box where the lurking Tom Bingham’s first time effort was scuffed slightly and the ball rolled straight to Norris in the Badshot goal. Shortly after a deep free-kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Jake Downs, where Greg Haydon couldn’t get enough power on his header. To remind everybody that Badshot were still very much in the game Benga Ogunseye saw two shots in a minute whistle just past Lunn’s post. City responded well and from another fine run Darry Siaw set Tom Bingham up 15 yards from goal. Bingham took a touch but his goal bound effort was blocked at full stretch by a defender. On 77 minutes Bingham showed fine skill to bear down on goal where his shot to the near post was saved when perhaps a cross might have been more effective. Ogunseye still looked threatening for Badshot and Lunn had to get down quickly saving at his near post. As the game entered the last ten minutes another run and cross from Darryl Siaw gave Matt Brown a shooting chance, but again the shot lacked power and Norris was able to get down and save. With two minutes of regular time left the breakthrough came. Robbie Mundow’s pass found Tom Bingham who coolly slotted home into the corner. It seemed as if City had won the game at the death until the home side won a free-kick just outside the City box in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Up stepped the giant figure of Luke Wheeler, who had just entered the fray off the bench, who netted the free-kick to the jubilation of his team mates. All in all this was an entertaining end of season encounter.
Team: Kallum Lunn, Chris Tancock, Tom Booth (Nhoj Witter 83), Greg Haydon, Bobby Dormer, Jake Downs, Miguel Anderson (Robbie Mundow 56), Darryl Siaw, Marlon Pinder (Matt Brown 68), Tom Bingham, Evan Lopes.
Referee: Scott Orchard
