Guildford City stole three points from an impressive Bookham side who will be wondering just how they didn’t manage to win. The league leaders produced a performance nearly as dismal as the attendance, while the club bottom of the table were by far the better side. But it was the hosts who nicked a last minute winner as substitute Luke Bradnick converted from close range to spare their blushes.Any pre-match thoughts of an easy night for Guildford were dispelled within five minutes when a Bookham striker shot wide when one-on-one with City goalkeeper Hall. The visitors took the game to the hosts from the off, and saw a strong header ricochet off the inside of the post before being hastily cleared. Shortly before half time, yet another chance went begging when an open goal was missed with the City custodian well beaten. This perhaps showed a lack of confidence in front of goal from a Bookham side yet to record a victory in the league this season, but they had certainly played much better than their opponents.
Guildford regained some composure, and shape, in the second half and began to press forward. The Lions were defending deeply and giving the City strikers little time on the ball. City’s first real chance came when Ben Camara fired a powerful free kick over the wall which was saved well by the Bookham goalkeeper. City were finally starting to exert some pressure but some lacklustre passing made the visitors’ job easy.
In the last five minutes, another chance was missed by Bookham when a weak shot was saved easily by Hall. Their poor (or perhaps unfortunate) finishing was punished when substitute Luke Bradnick made the most of a scramble in the Bookham penalty area, and in the 92nd minute he poked the ball home with his first touch.
