Guildford City (2) 2, Bedfont & Feltham (0) 2
Guildford City won 4-2 on penalties
by Barry Underwood
As so often things are seldom straight forward at a Guildford City match. On this occasion City were coasting to a routine victory when the visitors – by now down to ten men – summoned up two goalscoring chances in the final quarter that both found the net. Debutant goalkeeper Alfie Mickley had saved well in the very first minute, but that apart it was the home side who dominated the game. Guildford created plenty of goalscoring chances but were guilty too often of spurning clear openings. It came close to costing City a cup victory, but not for the first time this season coolness in the penalty shoot-out saw the team through. Guildford had plenty of possession, but their tempo was too slow. Despite that they took the lead on 25 minutes although there was an air of good fortune about the goal. Athan Smith-Joseph fired goal wards from 20 yards. Keeper Tom Boyle seemed to have the ball covered but it squirmed through his grasp and into the net. In the following minutes both Eli Ogunseye and Mike Coppinger saw efforts saved by Boyle. A dangerous cross from the overlapping Jordan Cavender just eluded Cyril Ocansey, and just prior to the interval Ocansey’s shot was saved at close range after Dan Stewart’s deft pass.
The second half continued in the same vein. Jordan Cavender burst through from the left on 50 minutes before forcing Boyce into a diving save. The luxury of a second goal came minutes later when from a corner Greg Hayden’s header looped into the net. Cyril Ocansey saw a curling effort saved, before on 65 minutes the visitors went down to 10 men. Andre Smith had used his strength to burst through the middle before being brought down with a crude tackle from behind. Cyril Ocansey then beat the offside line and 1 on 1 with the keeper he sadly missed the target. From a rare attack Bedfont pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when Elliott Hayden headed home from a corner. Guildford might have responded immediately when Greg Haydon found himself free at the back post, but his effort sliced wide. The visitors were able to show the way to goal and on 76 minutes after a patient build up a long-range effort from Bradley Silva went in off the post. Mike Coppinger might have clinched a late winner, but his attempted chip went wide. In the final moments Bedfont went down to nine after a poor challenge on Jordan Cavender was disciplined with a red; Guildford themselves went down to 10 when Cavender was carried off the pitch.
And so once again the match moved to penalties. Two saves from Alfie Mickley gave City the advantage and successful kicks from Josh Everard, Mike Coppinger, Andre Smith and Dave Burton won the tie for the home side.
Team: Alfie Mickley, Jimmy Odagi, Jordan Cavender, David Burton, Greg Haydon, Sean Mason, Eli Ogunseye (Josh Everard 61), Mike Coppinger, Cyril Ocansey, Dan Stewart (Kieran Williams 43), Athan Smith-Joseph (Andre Smith 61). Unused subs: Jamie Higgins, Luke Beale.
Referee: Shawn Barclay
Attendance – 109
