Badshot Lea (1) 3, Guildford City (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
Despite a whole-hearted performance Guildford City’s run of poor results continued at Krooner Park going down by three goals to a resurgent Badshot Lea side. There was little between the sides in the opening half. The only difference being a late defensive error that saw the home nudge ahead on 40 minutes. After the break Badshot were more dominant and City’s attacking threat was limited, but until late in the game they still posed a challenge.
Despite their injury crisis with six starting players missing from the line-up, Guildford were composed for much of the first-half. They defended well and on their occasional attacks they did cause problems in the home defence. Dan Band worked hard in the middle of the park to get City moving but too often the final pass from Guildford players in general was misdirected. Badshot had sight of goal early when a foul was conceded on the edge of the box, but the wall did its job and the ball was cleared. For City Kiye Martin was narrowly judged to be offside from a through ball and on 25 minutes it was Martin who successfully put Benga Ogunseye through, but his low effort was well saved by the keeper’s legs. Badshot’s Danilo Cadette, recently joined from Fleet Town, posed a threat on the right and in one remarkable turn and run his acceleration was electrifying. On the half hour the home side saw an effort from outside the box clear the crossbar, before on 36 minutes Guildford themselves came close. David Burton’s header from a corner causing Jordan Clement to save spectacularly. Minutes later it was the home side’s turn and Stuart Norman was forced to save well at his near post. Deadlock was broken on 40 minutes when an attempted clearance fell to Badshot’s new signing Meshach Williams who drilled the ball low into the corner.
Early in the second period Stuart Norman again saved well for a corner but City were still very much in the game. On 55 minutes a speculative lob on the turn from Kiye Martin went much closer to the goal than first it appeared. Three minutes later City had a good chance when Nathaniel Williams laid the ball across the edge of the box where Sean Mason’s first time effort fizzed over the bar. On the hour there was a moment of controversy. Sean Mason’s cross into the box was clearly handled by a defender. Badshot officials later said it looked a clear penalty but sadly the two nearest match officials didn’t agree. With the score at 1-0 at that point that could have been the games defining moment. After that it was downhill for City. On 68 minutes Badshot scored their second through ex-Aldershot Town player Ryan Scott, although the goal owed much to Danilo Cadette. Tempers became frayed and Dan Band was shown red for wrestling a home player to the ground. With two inexperienced substitutes thrown into the fray City were on the back foot and it was no surprise when Brandan Lewington turned smartly and shot home from 20 yards. A disappointing result but there was no faulting the effort expended. But manager Chris Balchin will be looking for reinforcements before the weekends transfer deadline to bolster his ailing squad.
Team: Stuart Norman, Sean Mason, Isy Nzelo, Dan Band, Luke Beale (Sam Khera 69), David Burton, Mark Watkins, Kiye Martin, Benga Ogunseye, Bobby Webbe (Michael Durojaiye 81), Nathaniel Williams (Jamie Phillips 69). Unused subs: Tom Griffin, Dougal Chudley.
Referee: Andrew Webster
Attendance – 60