Guildford City (0) 1, Spelthorne Sports (3) 4
by Barry Underwood
Going into this game without a win for seven league matches, the last thing Guildford would have wanted was to concede as early as the second minute, and then to go two goals behind after five. The start knocked City for six and the visitors several times came close to extending their lead in the early stages. But there is no hiding from the fact that this was a hugely disappointing performance from Guildford City. The first goal came from a corner when Joe Dyett rose unchallenged and seemed almost embarrassed to head into the corner of the net. Just minutes later the prolific Lee Staples received the ball on the break and he calmly slid the ball past Luke Badiali. The action on the pitch calmed for five minutes during a storm of hailstones which left the pitch surrounds and much of the pitch coated white. When the sun returned the heavy going had got considerably heavier, but still it was the visitors who looked the more composed side. Callum Beauchamp rattled a shot against the crossbar and the best City could offer in return was interplay on the edge of the box which saw Kiye Martin’s shot on goal comfortably saved. Guildford looked all at sea defensively and on the half hour Spelthorne skewed a good chance wide of the goal. To all intents and purposes the game was put to bed just before the interval. City conceded a soft corner and that man Joe Dyett was on hand again to head home his second, and his side’s third goal of the afternoon. In first-half stoppage time the home side almost pulled one back when Dan Akinwande’s header was cleared off the line and the ball scrambled clear.
Within minutes of the restart Guildford had good chance to get themselves back in the game. A free-kick was awarded just outside of the box but Leon Lalor-Dell’s effort on goal lacked power and was easily gathered by William Price in the visitor’s goal. A goal however wasn’t delayed long. From a set-piece on the left Nemo Adams smart header was saved but Shawn Lyle was on hand to bundle the loose ball over the line. Almost immediately City should have scored again which would have made things very interesting. Robbie Mundow’s strong run into the box was thwarted by a lunging tackle. The ball ran loose to Lyle whose early shot would surely have found the net, but he looked for the perfect finish and the ball was scrambled clear. For a short spell Guildford were back in the game but normality resumed on 65 minutes when Spelthorne’s Tommy Mooney shot home to round off a fast break following a Guildford corner! Luke Badiali was twice called into action in the latter stages, whilst Kiye Martin came close with a delicately flighted effort. But overall Spelthorne were just too organised for City to worry them unduly, whilst City will need to improve considerably to avoid their league and cup seasons falling away dismally.
Team: Luke Badiali, Cameron Karembo (Leon Lalor-Dell 27), Alex Rose, Dan Akinwande, Nemo Adams, Robbie Mundow, Jamel Johnson (Luke Mitchell 81), Kiye Martin, Alpha Cauwenbergh (Tom Bingham 61), Shawn Lyle, Darryl Siaw. Unused sub: Kallum Lunn.
Referee: Alastair Higgs
Attendance – 66
