Guildford City (2) 3, Bedfont Sports (0) 2
by Barry Underwood
Last week Bedfont Sports bounced back from a half-time two goal deficit to claim a last minute 3-2 victory. Again at the Spectrum yesterday Bedfont found themselves down by two goals at the interval, but despite a very spirited second half performance they couldn’t pull a result out of the fire for a second week. Guildford City, with their injured defensive duo Nemo Adams and Luke Beale returning, opened the game impressively, and after six minutes the home side opened the scoring. Kyen Nicholas slid a ball through to Robbie Mundow who from an angle rifled a shot into the top corner of the net. Bedfont were slow out of the blocks, and on 11 minutes City had forged further ahead. Fine inter-passing between Dan Stewart, Robbie Mundow and Marlon Pinder gave Dan Stewart space 15 yards from goal, and his left foot shot just crept inside the far post. Chris Tancock, who has been impressive this season, overlapped on the right and his cross/shot zipped across the danger area and wide of the post. As the game developed Bedfont settled and certainly enjoyed some good possession winning a succession of corner kicks. From one of those corners on 25 minutes a deep corner was met at the far post but and blazed over the bar. On the half hour Guildford had a golden chance to kill the game. Out of nowhere City won a penalty. Rourke Pickford saved brilliantly from a powerful close range effort, but referee Ollie Davies had already spotted a foul and he pointed to the spot. Dan Stewart who had been successful from the spot the previous week once again stepped forward, but his effort from 12 yards cleared the crossbar by quite some margin. This miss might have given Bedfont a lifeline and they certainly went hunting as the half came towards it close. But City’s defence stood firm with the additional help of Louie Downey who notably won two excellent defensive headers inside his own penalty area.
Talk at half-time was whether Bedfont would for a second week recover in the second period. They immediately had a chance to reduce the deficit when Paul Johnson was given too much space on the right, and his cross gave Matt Riggs a shooting chance which went over the bar. There were chances at either end and Kieran Campbell fired over the bar from 25 yards from Marlon Pinder’s header. Lewis Sinclair, on off the bench for the visitors, looked dangerous up front and on the hour his pull back was shot just wide. Two minutes later Guildford had another great chance to put the game to bed. A mistimed Mundow shot found Kieran Campbell in space eight yards out but Rourke Pickford saved brilliantly twice from Campbell’s effort, and his follow-up from the rebound. City man of the match Nemo Adams was outstanding in the middle of City’s defence, and on 65 minutes he strode out of the defence with the ball at his feet before setting Nathaniel Williams into space on the left. The cross came into the box but neither Adams nor Kieran Campbell was able to get an attempt on goal. Bedfont still looked dangerous and ex-City forward Jacob Lambe saw an effort from a glancing header drift just wide. With 15 minutes remaining that man Lambe was on hand in the six yard box to convert from close range to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. A minute later that glimmer became a real hope when after two exquisite passes in the build-up Lewis Sinclair volleyed home the equaliser at the far post. At this stage you would have got good odds on Bedfont going on to win the match, but full credit to Guildford who dug in deep. Within three further minutes Robbie Mundow drove into the left side of the box and was heading for the by-line where he was unceremoniously upended. Referee Davies again pointed to the penalty spot and Kieran Campbell made no mistake to put the home side back in front. In the final minutes Bedfont lost Tim Pitt and Jamie Richards to second yellow cards; the second of which prevented debutant Jordan Gallagher bearing down on goal. After a nervy six minutes of stoppage time the final whistle went and City had inflicted on Bedfont their first league defeat of the season.
Team: Luke Badiali, Chris Tancock, Luke Beale, David Burton, Nemo Adams, Louie Downey, Marlon Pinder, Dan Stewart (Miguel Anderson 74), Kyen Nicholas (Kieran Campbell 46), Robbie Mundow, Nathaniel Williams (Jordan Gallagher 67). Unused subs: Chad Goulter, Endrit Dobraj.
Referee: Ollie Davies
Attendance – 77
