Guildford City (0) 1, AFC Hayes (2) 4
by Harry Vidgen
After an unfortunate loss the weekend before, Guildford City looked set to bounce back as they started the game brightly. Eli Ogunseye and Kyen Nicholas linked up brilliantly in the early stages of the match. As early as the third minute, Kyen Nicholas was put through on goal but his shot ended up being a tame one and it was easily gathered by the opposing keeper. At the other end, Mourad Jarraz of AFC Hayes, who proved to be a big threat throughout the game, had his shot saved expertly well by Stuart Norman.
There were many free kicks for both sides as tackles flew in. In the 23rd minute, Guildford City were awarded a free-kick. It was a good delivery and Kyen Nicholas met it with a powerful header towards the AFC Hayes goal that required an acrobatic save from the keeper to keep it out. He parried it into a dangerous area however, and Jordan Gallagher was unlucky not to convert from an acute angle. The sun was beating down on the pitch and in the 26th minute it seemed to block Billy Irving’s vision as he misjudged his header completely. The ball looped up and over him and was collected by AFC Hayes’ Haluna Musumbe on the left wing, who drilled it across the box where it was prodded home by Mourad Jarraz. Guildford were then put in even more trouble just two minutes later as they fell further behind thanks to a quite brilliant strike from AFC Hayes Nathan Dennis who rifled the ball into the top left corner of the Guildford City goal from just inside the box. AFC Hayes went into halftime with a commanding lead.
After the break, just like the first half, Guildford City started brightly as they created a number of chances that they disappointingly couldn’t turn into goals. Then in the 58th minute Luke Beale attempted to clear the ball but instead wiped out Lusungu Ndovi in the box. Penalty to AFC Hayes. Nathan Dennis stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. This was a crushing blow for Guildford as they go 3-0 down.
In the 74th minute, Guildford were awarded a free-kick in an attacking position. Benga Ogunseye took it, the ball deflected off the wall and the opposing keeper scrambled across his goal and tipped it over the bar. The corner was then taken and AFC Hayes failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Luke Beale who, on his second attempt, poked the ball into the back of the net, reducing the deficit. Guildford had a few more chances after Beale’s goal to reduce the deficit even further, with both David Burton, Nathaniel Williams and Eli Ogunseye firing just wide.
With the Guildford team pushed high up the pitch as they tried their best to salvage even a point in this match, they were left wide open at the back. In the 90th minute AFC Hayes stole possession from Guildford and cleared the ball up field. Mourad Jarraz ran clear and knocked the ball over the helpless Stuart Norman and into the far corner to put the game to bed. Guildford City slumped to an unfortunate defeat once again on a day where they deserved more.
Team: Stuart Norman, Sean Mason, Isy Nzelo, David Burton (Kyle Carton 84), Luke Beale, Billy Irving, Eli Ogunseye, Ben Cotton (Jamie Phillips 60), Kyen Nicholas, Benga Ogunseye, Jordan Gallagher (Nathaniel Williams 60).
Referee: Fabien Le Houzec
Attendance – 70
