AFTER Guildford’s stunning come back against Camberley Town at the weekend, City were determined to kick start their season with a win over fellow league strugglers Sandhurst town, currently situated just one place below City. However a Grant Nesbitt strike just before half time sent Guildford out of another cup competition.
Guildford started the much brighter team and should have been one to the good within the first minute, when Loysa poked the ball just wide after their defender had failed to clear. Guildford piled on the pressure in the early stages with the Sandhurst keeper kept busy. It wasn’t until the 15th minute before Sandhurst had their first chance; a shot from range which was very comfortably saved by Dave Tidy.
Despite this, Sandhurst looked like they had the best moment of the match so far, when their striker was put through on goal and if was not for a superb last gasp challenge from Andy Wylde, Dave Tidy would have had a job to do to prevent City from going 1 – 0 behind. After reclaiming the ball we were immediately on the attack, and Joe Loysa fired a rocket which stung the keeper fingers, the ball ricocheted to Craig Moore whose effort was just wide.
After this, the game opened with a few opportunities at both end. Danny Wilde for Sandhurst volleyed over from a cross and Loysa heading over from a corner. John Hamshire provided a comical element to the first half, when after a run up to take a corner; he apparently forgot what he was meant to kick; the ball or the flag…he chose the flag.
The best chance of the half so far, fell to their full back when, from a corner, he failed to even to test the keeper from 2 yards out. We should have been 1 – 0 down. However, we didn’t have to wait long when, two minutes later in the 41st minute Craig Nesbitt ran through, unchallenged and Dave Tidy, despite getting a strong right hand to it, couldn’t prevent the ball from hitting the net.
Sandhurst came out for the second half looking much the better team. The tempo and the temperature died down in the second half, with neither team creating too many chances. The only clear opportunity was provided by J. Loysa when he was fouled just on the edge of the penalty area. John Hamshire stepped up, knowing that there were no corner flags around, his shot just sailing wide with the Sandhurst keeper rooted to the spot.
The last chance that Guildford had to take the tie to extra time was a goal mouth scramble the last shot, from Hamshire, was scuffed just wide.
The overall feeling was the game was one of disappointed and frustration with Chris Pegman saying, “but if we had played all night we still wouldn’t have stuck the ball away… just one of those nights”. Hopefully our league form can continue when we entertain the financial giants, Chertsey Town on Saturday, and then seeking revenge when we travel to Sandhurst the following Saturday.
GUILDFORD CITY: D. Tidy; P. Bartholomew; M. Burns; C. Moore; A.Wylde; M Beard; A. Smiley; J. Hamsher; S. Wadge J. Loyza; S. Sheppard
SANDHURST TOWN: S. Collier; L. Theakston; M Czastka (P. Mulvaney, 76); D. Wilson; G. Nesbitt; B. Williams; M.Weston; E. Hutchings (B. Lee, 62); L. Wheeler; M.Fairminer; D. Wilde;
Subs not used: N. Selby; J. Fisk; R. Hogston;
