Guildford City (0) 3, Hanworth Villa (0) 0
by Harry Vidgen
Spirits were running high going into this match as Guildford City were enjoying an impressive run of form. The starting line-up saw three changes with Isy Nzelo , Dan Band and Nathaniel Williams all starting. The game started with a high level of intensity and it continued in that fashion throughout. Both sides having chances early on as just four minutes in Hanworth Villa’s Cyril Ocansey’s stinging shot from the centre of the box is expertly saved by Stuart Norman. Down the other end, Bobby Webbe’s free kick five minutes in was well struck but whistled just past the post. Eli Ogunseye and Kyen Nicholas linked up beautifully throughout the first half and in the 10th minute Kyen Nicholas put Eli Ogunseye through down the right wing and he surged down the line, whipping a fierce ball across the box that causes confusion in the Hanworth Villa box, resulting in Liam Garunge deflecting it just over his own bar.
Hanworth Villa slowly grew into the game but Guildford City’s defence held strong. Hanworth Villa had to resort to pot shots from outside the area, with Stuart Norman safely gathering on several occasions. Another expertly taken free kick by Bobby Webbe is taken in the 20th minute and Dan Band met it, heading just wide of the near post. Cyril Ocansey proved to be Hanworth Villa’s most dangerous threat and just before the break he skipped past two Guildford City players only to see his low cross easily cleared once again by Luke Beale.
A promising second half lay ahead with both sides looking to secure the win. However, just three minutes into the second half Nathaniel Williams, who had been looking extremely bright and dangerous throughout the first half, drove a dangerous ball into the box and it was met first time by Kyen Nicholas who bundled it over the line. Re-energised by Kyen Nicholas’s goal, Guildford City piled forward once more and corner after corner is won in the Hanworth Villa half with the closest effort coming from Theo Woodhouse. Eventually after chaos in the box, the ball eventually fell to Theo Woodhouse who attempted a scissor kick style volley that missed the target by inches. With Guildford City applying this much pressure a second goal was inevitable and in the 57th minute, Guildford City win a free-kick just outside Hanworth Villa’s box. Bobby Webbe once again took it and delicately floats it in where it was met powerfully by Dan Band who rose above everyone else and guided it brilliantly into the bottom left corner. Guildford City double their lead.
Hanworth Villa’s heads seemed to have dropped and they had nothing left in them as Guildford City enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession. In the 65th minute Guildford put the game to bed as Dan Band is put through and he calmly slots it past the opposing keeper to grab his second goal of the game. In the 71st minute following a cleared Guildford City corner, Hanworth Villa attempt to mount a counterattack but Theo Woodhouse, who had been instrumental in the midfield all game, preventing Hanworth Villa from breaking with a crunching tackle. Unfortunately, despite his heroic efforts, he limped off injured shortly afterwards to be replaced by David Burton. In the latter stages of the match, Eli Ogunseye could have added a few more goals to the scoresheet with only a brilliant save from the Hanworth Villa keeper and a delicate chip that sailed just wide of the far post denying him. Guildford City were simply too strong and too clinical for Hanworth Villa in this match on a day where they climbed back up to 5th place in the table.
Team: Stuart Norman, Sean Mason, Isy Nzelo, Dan Band, Luke Beale, Nemo Adams, Eli Ogunseye, Theo Woodhouse (David Burton 82), Kyen Nicholas (Benga Ogunseye 60), Bobby Webbe, Nathaniel Williams (Jordan Gallagher 63). Unused subs: Alex Cooper, Tom Griffin.
Referee: Phillip Jones
Attendance: 51
