Guildford City (0) 0, Egham Town (2) 2
by Barry Underwood
After two excellent away victories City returned to the Spectrum in good heart. Sadly though the home jinx struck again and Guildford slipped to a home defeat at the hands of Egham Town. Prior to the match City boasted one of the league’s best defensive records. But inexplicably a number of times early on Egham ripped through the home defence, and they could have put the game to bed inside 20 minutes. Egham went ahead after just four minutes when a corner eluded Zack Basey, and a Jay O’Connell effort went in at the near post off of a Guildford defender. A minute later Egham hit the crossbar through Anthony Thomas, and later the same player lobbed over the crossbar in a one on one. From another corner Egham headed wide from six yards and things looked ominous for the home side. Guildford did rally though and after a fine move Cyril Ocansey saw a shot saved low down at the near post. Moments later Dacres-Smith fed Eli Ogunseye whose early effort went over the bar. On 34 minutes Egham scored a second goal, and this time it was Anthony Thomas who raced clear of the offside appeals to convert past Basey. In the late stages of the half Guildford missed two golden chances to get back into the game. First Cyril Ocansey just needed to square the ball to Kieran Campbell free in front of goal, but his short range pass was misdirected and the chance was lost. Then almost on the whistle Campbell’s shot was saved by the keeper. The loose ball though rolled free and somehow the ultimately frustrated Leavan Sullivan was unable to put the ball in the net.
Guildford had much of the play in the second period as Egham understandably defended in numbers. On the hour it looked as if City would get on the scoreboard when a fine pass from Eli Ogunseye gave Dan Stewart a great opportunity. City’s ace marksman elected to round the goalkeeper in a tight space and the chance came to nothing. Minutes later neat play around the edge of the box saw Stewart drive a shot just over the bar. Play became more desperate as the match reached its later stages. Wayne Ridgley saw a shot comfortably saved, before the visitors twice threatened on the break. The first effort cleared the goal, whilst the second struck the crossbar. With 90 minutes up on the clock there was chance of a late consolation for City when a great ball from Campbell found Dan Stewart. Sadly Stewart’s day was summed up when his fierce effort missed the target.
Team: Zack Basey, Billy Irving, Sean Mason, Theo Woodhouse, Leavan Sullivan (Joshua Burrowes 46), Leavan Sullivan, Nemo Adams, Eli Ogunseye, Ryan Dacres-Smith (Benga Ogunseye 79), Kieran Campbell, Dan Stewart, Cyril Ocansey (Wayne Ridgley 67). Unused subs: Josh Everard, Isy Nzelo.
Referee: David Payne
Attendance – 106