Guildford fell to a narrow one goal defeat at Biggleswade’s impressive Carlsberg stadium, but in truth were mightily unlucky to travel home without at least a point. City had opened brightly on an excellent playing surface, and Austin Gacheru’s excellent pass to Dan Moody after just four minutes saw the first chance of the game, although the home defence quickly snuffed out the danger. Minutes later Jack Guilford was just unable to snap up Tom Penson’s low cross and home keeper Michael McEntegart was able to snaffle the ball at the second attempt. Then after a bright opening the momentum of the game changed. From almost no where strong winds and driving rain drove down the pitch into City’s faces. For fully 20 minutes or so, it became nigh on impossible to get the ball into the opposition half. Antony Hall’s drop kicks swirled off the sides of the pitch, and goal kicks ballooned up in the air before coming down merely some 35 yards from goal. Playing with the wind Biggleswade sensed this was their time. A succession of corners and long throws put the City defence under extreme pressure, and it was no surprise on 23 minutes when Lee Allinson’s corner from the left was helped by the wind past a pressured Antony Hall for the first goal of the afternoon. At this point the home keeper hadn’t touched the ball for fully 15 minutes; indeed the ball hadn’t been within 40 yards! Biggleswade came close to scoring their second on 33 minutes with their best move of the game. City lost the ball cheaply in midfield and Antony Hall spread himself well to save from a close range effort. As half-time approached the wind and rain ceased and City, with Joel Hughes on from the bench, started to make inroads; Austin Gacheru having the best chance when he just failed to take the ball past McEntegart in goal.
Within seconds of the restart a Dan Moody cross from the right only just eluded a stretching Jack Guilford. With Joel Hughes in particular posing constant problems down the left flank, and Jaydon Gibbs providing quality delivery from set pieces, it looked only a matter of time before City got on the score sheet. From one such Gibbs cross, Gacheru glanced a header wide, and then after 65 minutes Guildford pressure finally told. Another Moody cross from the right saw Joel Hughes thump a header against the crossbar. Jack Guilford saw his shot from the rebound well saved, before Austin Gacheru was able to bundle the ball over the line at the second attempt. City were dominating and only one side was going to go on and win the game. Unfortunately as it transpired this wasn’t going to be Guildford! A rare Biggleswade excursion into City’s half led to Joel Mason breaking and slotting past the advancing Hall with just eight minutes remaining. Try as they might Guildford couldn’t snatch a deserved equaliser, and when Junior Kaffo’s shot drifted wide in the final moments, City’s last opportunity had passed.
Guildford City:
Antony Hall, Elvis Defreitas, Ben Rayner (Joel Hughes 35), Tom Penson, Jamie Thoroughgood, Corey Holder, Dan Moody (Dammy Bada 81), Jack Guilford, Austin Gacheru, Tommy Tydeman (Junior Kaffo 65), Jaydon Gibbs.
Unused substitutes: Michael Hall.
Cautioned: Tom Penson, Jamie Thoroughgood, Tommy Tydeman, Jaydon Gibbs
Referee: M. Mellor
Click here to hear the post-match reaction of manager Kevin Rayner
