Guildford City settled well and had the best of the early exchanges with Guilford and Camara forcing saves. But in the 21st minute, Danny Smy’s quick break on the left wing was halted by Elvis de Freitas as he cut in to the penalty area. A penalty was awarded but smashed low against the post by David Head. With the game very even after this, and perhaps with City in control, it was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half time. Tommy Tydeman was impeded by the corner flag and Ben Rayner delivered a superb cross on to the head of the impressive Jack Guilford who planted his header into the back of the net.
Half Time: Guildford City 1 – 0 Leiston
However, a disastrous spell for City just after the break saw the tie turn on its head. Boardley’s long free kick evaded everyone except Danny Smy who slotted past Hall unchallenged in the 47 minute. And within a minute, a defensive mix up saw Rayner unwittingly provide a second assist of the day when his clearance landed straight onto the foot of Smy to volley home his second. Leiston were clearly in the ascendency and City were struggling to regain the composure they’d had in the first half. Elvis de Freitas kept City in it when he acrobatically cleared off the line, as shown on the front of this programme! With a little under quarter of an hour left, Simon Cooper’s free kick found its way to the back of the Leiston penalty area where Jaydon Gibbs squeezed home an equaliser. However, Leiston were still dominant against a rapidly tiring CIty team short on match fitness. But it was Ben Camara whose touch just evaded him in the last few minutes when he was through on goal. Tony Chaplin and Antony Hall then produced a quickfire pair of goal line stops to ensure Guildford City managed to reach full time level.
Full Time: Guildford City 2 – 2 Leiston
And then there was extra time. City conceded four goals and had two players sent off as the efforts of the first 90 minutes clearly took their toll.
