Colliers Wood United (1) 1, Guildford City (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
For the second time in five days Guildford City scored a stoppage time goal to rescue something from a game that looked as if it was slipping away. It wasn’t as if City played poorly, although this wasn’t one of their best performances. It was just their failure to carve out clear shooting chances despite good possession in the attacking third. Take nothing away either from the home side who are a far better side than their league position suggests. Solid at the back and plenty of pace up front they ended Westfield’s 100% league record a week ago. Colliers Wood didn’t waste time in taking the game to Guildford; Ogunseye and Harding linking to set up Romario Hart who converted from close range after just four minutes. City are no strangers to going behind and they responded quickly when Will Hoare headed just wide from a Kiye Martin cross. Minutes later the diminutive Hoare set Ibby Akanbi free on the left with a fine crossfield ball. Akanbi set course for goal from the left flank before unleashing a fine effort that curled just past the far post. In recent matches Guildford have looked susceptible to counter attacks after attacking set pieces and on 17 minutes a quick break saw Eli Ogunseye shoot wide from a good position. The home keeper Andrew Osei was consistently pinning Guildford back with his howitzer like drop kicks which often gave his side possession in the middle of the park. On 39 minutes in a controversial moment Kiye Martin was brought down by Osei as both players raced to reach the bouncing ball. A foul certainly but whether in the penalty area or not is more uncertain. In any event referee Bolland pointed to the spot after consulting his assistant. Up stepped Jason Thompson but Osei made amends by pulling off a fine diving save. Minutes before the interval Ogunseye forced a fine save out of Luke Badiali, before in first-half stoppage time Colliers full-back Curtis Wayne was shown red for kicking out after a foul had actually been awarded to his side.
How would City fare in the second period? Well they certainly lifted themselves, enjoying more of the ball in the process. A generally frustrated Moses Ashikodi took the ball down well in the box but a last ditch lunge blocked his close range effort on goal. Both sides then exchanged efforts on goal from free-kicks. Ibby Akanbi forcing a diving save out of Osei, while at the other end Luke Badiali saved well from ex-City midfielder Sanchez Benali. As the game entered the last half hour City introduced reinforcements from the bench. Luke Badiali saved well with his feet to keep City in the game, and as the match entered its final stages Ibby Akanbi went close, and Greg Haydon headed back across goal into the danger area without a City player getting the important touch. Time after time City went forward in the final moments with the home side defending desperately. Five minutes into added time Darryl Siaw – thrown forward in the final moments – was brought down in the box and once again referee Bolland pointed to the penalty spot. Gutsy player that he is Jason Thompson once again stepped up and this time he powered the ball home to claim for City a point. Not undeserved over the game as a whole but hugely disappointing for the home side who had played all of the second half with ten men and had defended stubbornly to protect their lead.
Team: Luke Badiali, Darryl Siaw, Tom Booth (Jordan Taylor 65), Jason Thompson, Martin Dynan, Bobby Dormer (Greg Haydon 81), Will Hoare, Shawn Clement-Peter (Rob Wickenden 68), Moses Ashikodi, Ibby Akanbi, Kiye Martin. Unused sub: Chad Goulter.
Referee: Jonathan Bolland
