Guildford City (1) 1, Camberley Town (1) 1
by Barry Underwood
Guildford and Camberley battled out a competitive encounter at the Spectrum on Saturday with both sides deservedly claiming a point. After overnight and morning rain the sports centre side of the pitch was heavy, although the playing surface was otherwise good. After early pressure from the visitors a shot drifted just wide of the post, whilst minutes later Jordan Gallagher cut in from the right and saw his left foot effort drift go wide of the far post. Both defences looked strong and there were few clear openings on goal during the first half. City did look a little suspect defending corners and from one such set piece Connor Gales rose to head home after 10 minutes. The lead didn’t last long when following a City set piece Nemo Adams hooked a shot towards goal which Kallum Lunn parried into the air. Luke Beale was first to react to head the loose ball into the net via Lunn’s body for his first goal for the club. It wasn’t a classic free-flowing game but City did play some nice football. After 25 minutes Kallum Lunn again showed his worth by saving Robbie Mundow’s effort from the edge of the box and there was a hint that Dan Stewart was impeded as he made for the rebound. Camberley themselves had chances and Freddie Kelsey shot over after miscommunication in the home defence. In the five minutes leading up to the interval two Camberley corners came close to providing goals. Firstly Luke Badiali saved brilliantly from close range, and secondly Chris Tancock headed off the line at the near post.
Immediately from the second-half kick-off Guildford had a golden chance to take the lead. Mark Watkins, whose wife had a baby daughter during the week, did well on the left and his excellent low cross found Dan Stewart whose first time effort cleared the crossbar. Despite the miss Guildford continue to push forward. A chance fell to Jordan Gallagher after a couple of mishits but he just couldn’t react fast enough to turn the ball home. Gallagher and Mark Watkins linked well in the box but Watkins effort was blocked for a corner from which Nemo Adams watched a ball cannon off him and just wide of the post. On the hour City again came close. This time a deep cross from Nathaniel Williams saw Jordan Gallagher head goalwards from close range, but the impressive Lunn saved the effort brilliantly. In a rare attack Camberley glanced a header wide but it looked more likely that City would score. On 65 minutes Mark Watkins blazed over the bar from 15 yards, and in the best moment of the game Dan Stewart showed an excellent touch to get away from his marker, before advancing and drawing an excellent save from Lunn with his low effort from 25 yards. With 15 minutes remaining Luke Badiali saved a long range effort in spectacular fashion, whilst for City a great pass from Chris Tancock set Jordan Gallagher free on the right. Sadly as be bore down on goal his touch let him down giving Lunn the chance to block his effort. Three minutes into stoppage time Guildford hearts were in mouths when a Camberley striker went down in the box but fortunately referee Harrison Blair, who enjoyed a fine game, waved play on.
Team: Luke Badiali, Chris Tancock, Shaun Johnson (Daryl Bryan-Samuels 66), Luke Beale, Nemo Adams, David Opuku, Nathaniel Williams, Robbie Mundow, Mark Watkins, Dan Stewart, Jordan Gallagher. Unused sub: David Burton.
Referee: Harrison Blair
Attendance – 66
