Guildford City (0) 0, Southall (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City fell to their seventh home league defeat of the season; but on the positive side this was a vastly improved performance on previous weeks. On another day the home side might have taken something from the game. Southall for their part went fifth with this win, and they probably did deserve to edge the game. On a heavy pitch passing football wasn’t so easy, but both sides attempted to play football “the right way”. Guildford opened the game with confidence and in the first minute earned a free-kick just outside the Southall box. The set-piece was laid square to Ryan Dacres-Smith whose effort was blocked by the wall. Two minutes later Cyril Ocansey burst through on the left but his effort as he reached the penalty-area was miscued and went wide. Southall themselves had half chances. They too won a free-kick in a dangerous position. The City wall blocked the first attempt and an effort from the rebound went wide. Aaron Bufton was called into action on 23 minutes when he athletically intercepted a header back across the box. Southall did look lively, especially down the left flank but Guildford defended stoutly. The returning Nemo Adams had two sightings of goal. The first from a corner was headed over, whilst from a later corner he half volleyed just wide.
The game was wide open and in the opening minute of the second period it took a fantastic tackle to prevent Dan Stewart going through on goal. A minute later a back-pedalling Southall keeper managed to tip Cyril Ocansey’s chipped effort over the bar. Southall hit back and on 53 minutes they gave notice of their intentions when they struck the crossbar. Guildford failed to take heed and within seconds Sandro Fernandes cut in from the left and shot through a defenders legs and just inside the post for what proved to be the game’s only goal. Getting a goal back became a harder proposition when around the half-hour City’s twin strikers Medrado and Stewart both limped off with injury. On 65 minutes substitute Tuan West had a good chance as he burst onto a through ball, but after momentary hesitation his early effort was saved for a corner by Berkley in the Southall goal. The game became stretched in the final stages as City sought a lifeline. Try as they might the home side couldn’t fashion an open, whilst in stoppage time Josh Everard headed off his own line to give Guildford a semblance of a chance.
Team: Aaron Bufton, Isy Nzelo, Josh Ogunseye, Theo Woodhouse, Nemo Adams, Sean Mason, Cyril Ocansey, Josh Everard, Leo Medrado (Tuan West 60), Dan Stewart (Nick Keyamo 66), Ryan Dacres-Smith, Unused subs: Kieran Wright, Josh Burrowes, Dan Hurlow.
Referee: Joe Kaspar
