Guildford City (0) 0, Knaphill (1) 2
by Barry Underwood
I used to play golf and occasionally after a couple of moderately successful rounds you would begin to believe you had the game cracked. Then out of the blue the next round would show how wrong you were. So it was with Guildford today who following three good performances and results, huffed and puffed and just couldn’t get their game together. There wasn’t much in the early stages although Eli Ogunseye slid Kyen Nicholas through but the advancing Aaron Holt did enough to avert the danger. Before the match was 15 minutes old the game had an enforced break. Referee Scott Orchard turned awkwardly and ended up sprawled on the pitch in some pain. A 15 minute break ensued whilst Orchard was stretchered from the pitch and a young local assistant summoned to run a line. Experienced assistant David Cooper took over the whistle. A minute after the restart City went behind. A ball from the left was flicked on and Matt Kellett-Smith took the ball on to beat Stuart Norman. For the remainder of the half neither side could carve a clear opening. Knaphill were well organised and gave City’s wide men no space in which to operate. On the half hour though the home side did have two efforts on goal. Kyen Nicholas turned nicely in the box but his shot was mishit and comfortably saved. Minutes later Benga Ogunseye fired a low ball across the six yard box where it narrowly eluded Kyen Nicholas. Right on the half-time whistle Benga Ogunseye shot from the edge of the box whistled just over the bar.
For much of the second-half Guildford didn’t look unduly troubled defensively. Offensively though, as hard as they tried, they couldn’t make headway. Early on Jordan Gallagher did break into the box and not for the last time a City cross didn’t fall to a red shirt. Kyen Nicholas shot wide after a well-timed run, but general City had the air of a frustrated side. As the clock ticked down Stuart Norman saved well low down and Isy Nzelo completed the clearance under pressure. As the game approached 90 minutes desperation set in. City went three up top when Tom Griffin was added to the fray but as throughout the game an opening couldn’t be fashioned. In stoppage time Knaphill forced Stuart Norman into a fine save, before with almost the last kick of the game Knaphill broke only to be illegally halted on the edge of the box. Up stepped former City player Jack Collins who fairly smashed a free-kick into the net. If anybody had had the misfortune to get into the way they would probably have also landed in the net with the ball.
Team: Stuart Norman, Sean Mason, Josh Burrowes (Isy Nzelo 63), Luke Beale (Tom Griffin 85), Nemo Adams, David Burton, Eli Ogunseye, Bobby Webbe, Kyen Nicholas, Benga Ogunseye, Jordan Gallagher (Nathaniel Williams 63). Unused subs: Billy Irving, Alex Cooper.
Referee: Scott Orchard (David Cooper 15)
Attendance – 83
