Guildford City (0) 2, Eastbourne United (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Guildford eventually came out on top in this tense FA Vase battle courtesy of a magnificent long range effort from Jack Battie. It had been a game with little to separate the two sides and it had looked as if extra-time was beckoning. A City corner late in the game was taken short and found its way to Battie who curled an effort from 25 yards beyond Hawkins and into the top corner. City had in fact opened the game in confident fashion, following on from where they left off on Wednesday evening. Ibby Akanbi again looked dangerous on the right and he had a great chance on six minutes when he cut in from the flank but his shot was mishit wide. City were playing well and on the quarter hour Darryl Siaw in a forward run was brought down in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Matt Glass stepped up but Hawkins guessed right and made a comfortable save. Gradually City began to lose their mojo and although the visitors didn’t significantly threaten the match was largely stalemate.
The second half began with Jack Battie replacing Darryl Siaw who was suffering with a tight hamstring. Within five minutes Eastbourne had taken the lead. The ball was driven low across from the by-line and Jamie Bunn was unmarked on the edge of the box to pick his spot in the corner. Dean Thomas responded by introducing Dan Harding from the substitutes bench and his introduction gave the home side a visible lift. A cute through ball from Battie found Perry Coles in the box but his shot was pulled inches wide. On the hour a long range Dan Harding shot was saved by Hawkins legs and a difficult rebound was volleyed over by Coles. The Sussex side responded with a long ball into the right channel which put the otherwise impressive Alex Penfold under pressure, leading to a powerful shot over the crossbar. On 70 minutes the equaliser came and as far as the visitors were concerned it was surrounded in some controversy. During a goalmouth scramble the ball was adjudged to have struck the hand of a defender on the line and another penalty was awarded to Guildford. Credit to Matt Glass for again stepping up to the plate and this time he made no mistake drilling into the corner. With the scores level it was Guildford who had the momentum. Shawn Clement-Peter shot straight at the goalkeeper following a 1-2 with Perry Coles, and on 78 minutes a dangerous curling effort from Dan Harding was deflected for a corner. Then in stoppage time with extra-time looming up stepped that man Jack Battie to put City ahead with a memorable goal.
Team: Jordan Clement, Andre Paul, Alex Penfold, Darryl Siaw (Jack Battie 46), Shawn Clement-Peter, Bobby Dormer, Ibby Akanbi, Marcel Henry-Francis (Dan Harding 52), Perry Coles, Matt Glass, Tom Booth. Unused subs: Tom Bingham, Rob Wickenden.
Referee: George Kimber-Sweatman
Attendance – 86
