CB Hounslow (0) 2, Guildford City (0) 3
by Barry Underwood
A stoppage time goal from defender Greg Haydon handed Guildford City the three points at The Orchard last evening. Once again any neutrals watching will have been richly entertained but for those with close alliances with the participating sides there would have been considerable tension, especially amongst the ranks of the watching Sweeney. City in fact opened the game in impressive fashion and for the first 15 minutes they were camped in the Hounslow half. Before a minute was on the clock Moses Ashikodi won the ball in the box and his fierce shot from an acute angle only narrowly went wide. Amidst a succession of corners Bobby Dormer rose but headed wide and Hounslow’s debutant goalkeeper, 16 year old George Douglas and his defence, including former City defender Harry Driver, held firm. Gradually as the game developed the home side gained firstly a toehold, and then a foothold and their crisp passing to feet and movement was making it hard to the visiting side to gain possession of the ball. Indeed just prior to the half-time interval Hounslow twice came close to taking the lead. From the first Rashid Oddabi just failed to connect with a ball into the box and in stoppage time a quick break led to City keeper Luke Badiali producing a flying save at the expense of a corner.
Within minutes of the second half starting Hounslow gave notice that they were looking to continue in the same vein when Nick Hardy escaped the clutches of the City defence to bear down on goal but fortunately for the visitors Luke Badiali was alert to the danger and came out to block Hardy’s effort. It wasn’t all one way traffic though as Nathan Gordon saw a deflected effort drift just wide. Indeed it was the same player who was to open the scoring. After fine interplay on the edge of the box Shawn Clement-Peter’s powerful effort was parried by Douglas but Nathan Gordon was on hand to net the loose ball. Guildford were not to lead for long however. On 59 minutes a quickly taken free-kick was played into the box and after a period of apparent pin-ball Rashid Oddabi shot home. To their credit it was then City’s turn to respond immediately. A free-kick from the half way line was flighted deep into the home penalty area where Bobby Dormer rose highest to head home his first goal of the season. So City were leading, but sitting deep they allowed Hounslow the middle of the park and with their passing and movement they looked dangerous indeed. Luke Badiali pulled off another excellent save and from another moment of danger City’s hard working defence scrambled the ball away off the line. On 78 minutes Hounslow scored their deserved equaliser and what a goal it was! Rashid Oddabi had impressed throughout and his brilliant effort from outside the box will certainly be a contender for the home side’s goal of the season. 2-2 then going into the final stages and Sweeney pessimists could only see the game going against them. Fear not City’s defence to a man held against the pressure. Then a minute into stoppage time Greg Haydon grabbed the three points for Guildford, stabbing a loose ball home through a mass of bodies. Hounslow will have been devastated at losing a game they could well have won; a feeling we had experienced recently at Spelthorne. Meanwhile for City a win that takes that up to sixth in the league. A special mention to young goalkeeper George Douglas who performed admirably for Hounslow on his first team debut.
Team: Luke Badiali, Greg Haydon, Nathan Gordon (Tom Booth 56), Jason Thompson, Martin Dynan, Will Hoare (Rob Wickenden 69), Shawn Clement-Peter, Bobby Dormer, Moses Ashikodi (Tom Bingham 56), Ibby Akanbi, Kiye Martin. Unused subs: Chad Goulter.
Referee: Amadou Jallow
Attendance – 51
