Guildford City (0) 0, Colliers Wood United (1) 4
by Barry Underwood
A Guildford City side missing several key players succumbed to a Colliers Wood side missing several key players at the Spectrum on Wednesday. After an even first half, City fell away badly in the second period, giving in the process their poorest 45 minutes of football of the season. Manager Steve Dormer was perplexed after the match apologising to the supporters for an “unacceptable performance. In the first period Guildford did at least threaten the visitor’s goal and after six minutes Darryl Siaw set up debutant Terence Cariba who fired in a low shot which was saved at the near post. Siaw himself came close when 16 year old Jordan Goater slipped him through on the right but his powerful effort was well saved by Wester Young. On 23 minutes Colliers shot into the side netting from a good position, and minutes later they took the lead thanks to the persistence of Anis Nuur. A through ball from Hussain Mohamed was reached first by the quickly advancing Luke Badiali but his kicked clearance cannoned off Nuur who won the race to the loose ball to put the ball into the empty net. Former City winger Sanchez Benali curled a free-kick just wide for the visitors, but in general the home sides build up was too ponderous, with openings at a premium. One exception was a strong run and shot from Jordan Goater that brought the best out of Young. Then from the resulting corner Alex Rose unleashed a cross/shot which again Young saved.
At the opening of the second period Shawn Lyle was pushed further forward but action in the final third was somewhat limited. Indeed Colliers Wood put down a firm marker three minutes into half by scoring a second and it was a fine goal; Sanchez Benali’s free-kick being glanced in by Romario Hart. Try as they might the City team were struggling to make any headway. Too often passes were going astray and too often the visitors were coming away with the ball from 50:50 challenges. A trademark Darryl Siaw run on the hour did cause some concern in the away defence but sadly his cross was intercepted. In response Anis Nuur shot wide from a good position with Luke Badiali beaten. To his credit Shawn Lyle was prepared at least to try his luck from range. One effort on the turn zipped just wide, whilst Young later parried his 30 yard pile driver. The visitors scored their match clinching goal on 68 minutes when Dan Harding was left totally unmarked at the back post to loop a goal scoring header over Luke Badiali. As the match entered its final stages Sanchez Benali shot wide after a strong run, whilst for City Suleiman Djalo’s touch was just too heavy to get a shot away. Dan Akinwande did head against the crossbar from close range, and glance another header wide but in the game’s final moments Colliers Wood scored a fourth. Substitute Zana Remezan-Zaxo won a tough tackle in midfield and after advancing unimpeded his 25 yard effort beat the diving Badiali. Certainly not a good day at the office for City.
Team: Luke Badiali, Suleiman Djalo, Alex Rose (Rashid Obbadi 48), Greg Haydon, Dan Choules, Jordan Goater (Kiye Martin 62), Darryl Siaw, Shawn Lyle, Jacob Lambe, Terence Cariba (Will Hoare 54), Dan Akinwande. Unused subs: Leon Lalor-Dell, Matt Petts.
Referee: Zack Jacquart
Attendance – 66
