Camberley Town (3) 3, Guildford City (1) 3
by Barry Underwood
What an astonishing match this was at Krooner Park. On a heavy pitch and in drizzle throughout the conditions were not conducive to City’s brand of flowing football. This was always going to be a tough game with the home side going into the match on the back of an 18 match unbeaten run. Camberley’s Marcus Cousins shot across goal early on but barring that it was all City for the opening 20 minutes. Playing with plenty of width the home defence was continually stretched, but as on other occasions the visitors couldn’t make their dominance tell in front of goal. In a golden three minute spell City thrice came close. Firstly the impressive Shawn Clement-Peter hooked an effort towards goal that drifted just wide with the goalkeeper scrambling. Seconds later Jordan Gallagher’s driven cross come shot was intercepted at full stretch, quickly followed by Evan Lopes’s acrobatic volley which went wide of the post. Football is about making use of your chances and City were made to pay on 20 minutes. Shaun Johnson cleared off the line from a corner but somehow a ball driven back into the box by Jack Dean found its way into the net. Six minutes later it was two when Marcus Cousins found himself in space at the back of the goal and he cut inside and thrashed a powerful effort into the roof of the net. Guildford were rocked back on their heels and several further times they had to defend dangerous moments. Against the run of play Jordan Gallagher won the race with keeper Callum Ellis-Jones to win the ball but his early effort went wide of the post. Four minutes before the break Camberley grabbed a third. Poor marking in the visitor’s defence gave Adam Francis the chance to lift the ball into the net. Knocked on their heels as the half reached its conclusion, City scored a fortuitous goal that kept their hopes alive. Kiye Martin’s free-kick into the box was dropped by Ellis-Jones and the skipper Nemo Adams was on hand to back heel the loose ball into the net.
When Camberley went three goals up the home bench and separately their goalkeeper found it easy to laugh at the plight of the visitors. This is a dangerous thing to do in football as games aren’t dead until the final whistle. Whether this was their motivator or not Guildford were transformed in the second period. Early on a neat move from a free-kick gave Dan Stewart a shooting chance which Ellis-Jones saved well. Ten minutes into the half tempers frayed and the referee struggled to keep control of the match. In a clash near a corner flag Nemo Adams and Liam Roberts were both cautioned; unfortunately for Roberts this was his second yellow and he had to make the long, lonely walk to the dressing room. Two minutes later City’s Kiye Martin followed him after picking up a second caution for simulation. With both sides down to 10 there was plenty of space on the pitch, and it was City’s passing game that benefitted the most. After a fine move Shawn Clement-Peter found space in the box and his powerful effort was blocked by Ellis-Jones. Five minutes later Jordan Gallagher’s inch perfect pass gave Dan Stewart the chance to take the ball round the goalkeeper but his effort with his unfavoured foot went wide of the gaping net. Perhaps it wasn’t to be Guildford’s day. Eventually with 15 minutes remaining City got on the scoresheet for a second time. This coincided with Camberley going down to nine men when Dan Jewell was mysteriously shown a straight red card. The goal came from Shawn Clement-Peter’s deep cross that was met at the far post by Chris Tancock who scored his first goal for the club in sublime fashion with a half volley. City were dominating and Robbie Mundow was working hard in the middle to keep the side driving forward. On 79 minutes City drew level when George Pilbeam headed down a high ball and Dan Stewart on the edge of the box smashed home the equaliser. City kept going forward in search of a winner and somehow Town’s defence cleared a powerful effort off the line, followed shortly after by a strong appeal for handball in the box when Dan Stewart’s cross from the by-line hit a defenders hands from close range. Having been 3-0 down after 44 minutes, City’s comeback for a point was well deserved and showed great character, and was warmly received by the travelling Sweeney.
Team: Luke Badiali, Shaun Johnson (Robbie Mundow 25), Josh Burrowes, Chris Tancock, Nemo Adams, David Opoku, Shawn Clement-Peter, Kiye Martin, Dan Stewart, Jordan Gallagher, Evander Lopes (George Pilbeam 60).
Referee: Turan Yesilyurt
