Guildford City’s first Southern League season for 38 years concluded in winning fashion at the Spectrum. In truth the opening period was typical “end of season” fare with City in particular struggling to get into their stride. The visitors, on a 12 match unbeaten run, played confidently in the opening period but were unable to create any clear chances. Gradually as the home side settled they came more into the game and on 20 minutes Dan Moody shot powerfully straight at Joe Mellings, following Simon Cooper’s high cross. Within minutes an elusive Dan Moody run resulted in him driving a low cross across goal but with nobody making a run the chance was lost. The best chance of the half fell to City on 31 minutes, when from Dan Moody’s corner, Jamie Thoroughgood far post header was saved acrobatically by visiting keeper Joe Mellings. The visitor’s best opening of the half came minutes before the interval. Ashley Robinson’s bewitching run taking him into the penalty area, only to be thwarted by a last ditch Jamie Thoroughgood challenge.
City were more fluent in the second period and within five minutes of the restart they had taken the lead. Dan Moody hooked the ball over his shoulder and back across goal, where Casey McCabe met the ball first bounce to spectacularly fire home his first goal for the club. Guildford were now dominating possession, and on 56 minutes Sean Rivers glanced Dan Moody’s free-kick just wide. On 64 minutes a hugely long drop kick from Mike Hall deep into Daventry’s half, was met by Dan Moody whose first time effort was well saved by Mellings. A minute later City went two goals ahead. Dan Moody’s free-kick from the left was headed back across goal where Junior Kaffo managed to turn the ball in off the post; Simon Cooper making sure in the event of dispute that the ball had crossed the line.
Daventry did push forward in the final stages and three times the outstanding Jamie Thoroughgood was on hand to make vital clearances. Tyrone Newton did have a long range effort saved with minutes to go but a Guildford will be delighted to have claimed a final match victory with which to go into the close season.
Ian Plested catches up with defender Tom Penson after a great clean sheet against Daventry
Team: Mike Hall, Bruce McPhail, Ben Rayner (Casey McCabe 8) (Tyrone Newton 66), Simon Cooper, Jamie Thoroughgood, Tom Penson, Dan Moody, Junior Kaffo, Sean Rivers (Mike Woods 61), Scott Todd, Dammy Bada.
Unused substitutes: Antony Hall, Anthony Bridgeman.
Referee: Andrew Laver
