Guildford City (0) 1, Colliers Wood United (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City moved to fifth place in the league at Frimley Green with a good all-round performance against a decent Colliers Wood side. It took a solitary goal from marksman Kyen Nicholas, but pleasingly City’s first clean sheet in eight matches was enough to claim the points. Sadly a dampener on proceedings, and in a match without a bad tackle, was the nine yellow cards shown to the sides in the match. On a surprisingly firm surface both sides looked to play some football. The early exchanges saw both sides have free-kicks in attacking positions but the first moment of real danger came on nine minutes when Jordan Gallagher’s teasing cross just eluded the stretching Kyen Nicholas. On 15 minutes Benga Ogunseye got goal side but bearing down on goal from an angle he put his shot wide of the far post. It wasn’t all one way although Colliers seldom got a clear sight of goal. From two such moments though Stuart Norman was called into action to save with his legs, before two minutes later a near post effort cleared the crossbar. On the half-hour Theo Woodhouse smashed an effort towards goal that struck a defender and claims for a potential penalty were waved away. On 38 minutes Kyen Nicholas surged forward before pulling the ball back to Benga Ogunseye whose effort was saved for a corner. Guildford also came close in the final moments of the half. A Jordan Gallagher free-kick curled across the goal and was missed by several players before Luke Beale’s hasty attempt hit the side netting.
Immediately after the break City won another free-kick; this time just outside the box. Bobby Webbe stepped up and his low effort eluded the wall but was saved at full stretch by the diving Sean Fallon. What proved to be the only goal of the game came on 50 minutes. Jordan Gallagher’s shot from outside the box took a big deflection off a defender and Kyen Nicholas was on hand to rifle the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. For a ten minute spell it looked as if City would take command as Eli Ogunseye in particular posed the visitors defence problems down the right flank. From one attempt Ogunseye’s effort was saved by the approaching Fallon’s legs for a corner. On the hour Dan Band won a great header to flick the ball into Ogunseye’s path but his lobbed effort was too strong and the ball cleared the crossbar. With twenty minutes remaining Stuart Norman saved spectacularly to keep City’s noses in front. Certainly late in the game Colliers enjoyed their best possession of the match but the home defence looked secure. Nathaniel Williams and Bobby Webbe both saw long shots comfortably saved. As the game entered its final seconds Dan Band “took one for the team” and received a caution. Sadly he was unwise enough to continue the debate and was promptly shown a second yellow. A sorry ending to what was a solid but none the less impressive performance.
Team: Stuart Norman, Sean Mason, Josh Burrowes, Theo Woodhouse, Nemo Adams, Luke Beale, Eli Ogunseye, Bobby Webbe, Kyen Nicholas (Tom Griffin 87), Benga Ogunseye (Dan Band 58), Jordan Gallagher (Nathaniel Williams 66). Unused subs: Billy Irving, David Burton.
Referee: Stephen Matthews
Attendance – 42
