With a trip to Chertsey being one of our closest away fixtures, no travel problems were envisaged. However the sudden closure of the A3 due to an incident at the height of the rush hour, led to road chaos, and nearly half of the City squad were severely delayed transport, leading to a delayed kick-off. With little or no preparation many City fans feared the worst, ala the trip to Rugby, when City found themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes following similarly rushed preparations.
However, perhaps surprisingly this was not the case, as Guildford opened brightly, playing some of their best football for some weeks. Dan Moody in particular looked ever dangerous down the right flank, and his series of crosses in to the home box caused problems a plenty. The first such after just five minutes saw his glorious cross just get the better of Joel Hughes, as the ball glanced off his head for a goal-kick. Just minutes later Dan Moody, coming inside this time, opened the scoring when he unleashed a fierce effort from fully 30 yards that deflected off a defender and looped over the stranded Rhys Marshall in the home goal. The goal was just the confidence booster City needed, and Moody’s sizzling effort from 20 yards, followed by narrow misses from Austin Gacheru’s left foot and Simon Cooper’s low shot saw Guildford fully dominating the first half. The all important second goal eventually came on 40 minutes when Marshall dropped a high cross, only for Gacheru to latch onto the loose ball. Twisting this way, and that way Gacheru eventually had his legs taken from under him, and after a short delay Dan Moody coolly despatched the penalty for his second of the night.
Chertsey approached the second half in determined fashion and saw much more of the ball, although not in truth in too many threatening positions. City themselves still looked threatening on the break, and in one astonishing run Joel Hughes picked up the ball in the right back position, and in a powerful charge down the pitch finally lost steam, and possession, in the diagonally opposite corner of the pitch some 80 yards away! Chances still came City’s way, with Jamie Thoroughgood coming closest when his looping header from a corner just cleared the crossbar. After 80 minutes the game was made safe. Dan Moody made good ground down the left and his cross managed to elude Marshall, before settling in the back of the net for a rather fortuitous hat-trick goal. Substitute Will Heavey looked energetic in his all too brief appearance; made briefer by a rash challenge from behind that resulted in a red card. Chertsey did get on the score sheet themselves shortly afterwards when Lewis Frostick converted a low cross at the far post. Guildford memories of giving up a late two goal lead against Chertsey in the League Cup recently were brought to the fore, and Chertsey played their best football of the match in the closing period. However on this occasion City held firm to gain another three valuable league points.
Guildford City
Antony Hall, Tom Penson (Elvis Defreitas 80), Ben Rayner (Junior Kaffo 73), Simon Cooper, Jamie Thoroughgood, Corey Holder, Dan Moody, Tommy Tydeman, Austin Gacheru, Joel Hughes, Dammy Bada (Will Heavey 65).
Unused substitutes: None
Cautioned: Dammy Bada, Tom Penson.
Sent off: Will Heavey
Referee: P Georgiou
Post-match interview with manager Kevin Rayner and defender Jamie Thoroughgood.
