Colliers Wood United (1) 2, Guildford City (1) 2
by Barry Underwood
The points were shared at Wibbandune in a tight encounter between Colliers Wood and Guildford City. In truth, this was the right result although City were left rueing a controversial penalty decision at the end of the first half. In the opening minutes City might well have carved out an opening. Chris Tancock put Kyen Nicholas free in the channel but his intended pass to the overlapping Dan Stewart was delayed just a moment too long. For long periods after that the game was stop start with little cohesive play at either end. Kyen Nicholas did get a chance to fire a half volley over the bar but he did better on 16 minutes when his nicely timed run took him beyond the defence. Nicholas squared the ball and Dan Stewart appeared from nowhere at the back post to net from 12 yards. Chances at either end were few and far between and Colliers first attempt on goal saw Youel Emmanuel fire a shot just over the bar. For City Bobby Webbe responded with a similar effort over the bar, and it looked as if an uneventful half was coming to an end with City leading by the game’s only goal. That was until an innocuous challenge after a long throw was adjudged to have been a foul in the box. City players were aghast but that didn’t stop Daniel Campion stepping up to drive a low penalty home to bring the scores level at the interval.
The second period was better for both sides. Early on Bobby Webbe forced Sean Fallon into a diving save, whilst the home side caused Liam Beach to save with his legs. This was though Beach’s only meaningful save in the match. On 56 minutes City won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Dan Stewart stepped up to force a save from Fallon but his effort lacked real pace. A minute later City came close again. This time an early effort from Mark Watkins saw Fallon parry the shot and Chris Tancock was unable to keep his effort from the rebound from clearing the bar. Both sides started to cancel each other out and it was 68 minutes before the next chance which saw Colliers hit the bar from a looping header. The home side also won two free-kicks in threatening positions; one of which narrowly cleared the crossbar. Then with four minutes remaining Guildford thought they had scored the winner. Isy Nzelo fed the ball into the box where Kyen Nicholas muscled past two defenders to fire a close range effort home. They say a team is most vulnerable just after they have scored and Guildford sadly proved the point. Just 12 seconds after kicking-off, Colliers in the form of Michael Fahm had the ball in the net for the equaliser. So both teams claimed a point. Having taken the lead so late City will be disappointed to have immediately conceded, but they put in a workmanlike performance and the draw keeps them in a challenging sixth position.
Team: Liam Beach, Isy Nzelo, Josh Burrowes, Billy Irving, Bobby Dormer, David Burton, Bobby Webbe (Robbie Mundow 85), Dan Stewart, Kyen Nicholas, Mark Watkins (Courage Moda 75), Chris Tancock (Tariq Straker 79). Unused sub: Ric Campbell.
Referee: Josh Osofa
