Guildford City punished defensive lapses by Chalfont St Peter to grab all three points, but this was a less convincing victory that in recent weeks and owed much to some wasteful finishing on the visitors’ part.
Chalfont St Peter were the visitors to the Spectrum for Guildford City’s first home Southern League fixture in 38 years. Pre-match hopes were high from a nostalgic crowd; however the game in truth, despite five goals being scored, didn’t quite live up to its billing. With the Kingstonian coaching team watching on from the stand, it was perhaps a Guildford master plan to lull today’s visitors into a false sense of security!
In a generally disappointing first period, Guildford found themselves, almost by accident, two goals to the good at the half-time interval. First Ben Rayner’s corner on the right – and after a flurry of confusion amongst the Chalfont bodies in the six yard box – ended up in the net to give City the lead. On 40 minutes Guildford increased their advantage. A poor defensive clearance saw Dan Moody capitalise on indecision in the Chalfont defence and he delicately nodded the ball past Power-Simpson in the visitors’ goal.
Chalfont’s impressive Reis Stansislaus pulled a goal back, before on 58 minutes Joel Hughes showed his strength to shrug off a defender and round the goalkeeper to put Guildford 3-1 up. To their credit Chalfont hadn’t given up on the game and were consistently hitting Guildford on the counter attack, and Antony Hall was forced into a succession of saves during the last quarter. Austin Gacheru and Chalfont defender Adam Louth were given their marching orders after a seemingly innocuous altercation. Stansislaus did manage a second for the visitors in stoppage time, but Guildford were not to be denied a first Southern League home victory for 38 years, 4 months and 13 days!
Guildford City:
Antony Hall, Tom Penson, Ben Rayner (Junior Kaffo 73), Simon Cooper (Capt), Jamie Thoroughgood, Corey Holder, Dan Moody, Jack Guilford, Austin Gacheru, Joel Hughes (Dammy Bada 82), Tommy Tydeman (Ben Camara 58).
Unused substitutes: Moses Spencer, Luke Bradnick.
Cautioned: Dammy Bada
Sent off: Austin Gacheru
