City ran out comfortable winners in this encounter with surprise CCL Premier package Mole Valley SCR. However they had to weather some concerted pressure in the first half from a well organised and pacey Mole Valley side. Jaydon Gibbs finally broke the deadlock just before halftime and Ben Camara extended the lead after the break with a well taken penalty. Gibbs struck again to put the result beyond doubt 15 minutes from time and Hughes capped an impressive cameo performance with a goal a few minutes later.
This was by no means a routine win – Mole Valley are a good attacking side as anyone who remembers our 3-3 draw at their place will testify. And the Moles really should have gone ahead within 30 seconds of kick off – Hall having to pull off a superb save to keep out a fine strike. The visitors continued to cause trouble for City as the Guildford midfield repeatedly failed to pick up their pacey wingers. Time and again they beat the offside trap (although there were a fair number of dodgy calls as the linesman seemed unable to keep up with play) but the home side just managed to contain the threat. They made SCR pay just before halftime when Gibbs, putting in another virtuoso performance down the left wing, cut inside, turned his man inside out and then coolly stroked the ball beyond Leigh Bowden in the Moles goal to make it 1-0 to City at halftime.
The second half could have been a lot closer but a silly challenge a few minutes in earned Guildford a penalty. Ben Camara stepped up and smashed the ball beyond the wrong footed Bowden to make it 2-0. You could see the Moles’ confidence visibly drop at this point and suddenly City had a lot more of the play. Gibbs was a constant thorn in their side and nearly scored from a superb effort from outside the box, the ball skimming the bar with Bowden completely beaten. It was only fair that Gibbs notched the third and bagged his brace – Bowden failing to keep out Jaydon’s powerful free kick. He was beaten again a few minutes later – Joel Hughes looking more confident than he has for a while – lashing a wonderful strike from the edge of the area which the Moles keeper could only parry, allowing him to smash the ball home from an almost impossible angle. Guildford could and should have made it 5-0 in the dying minutes but Anthony Bridgeman lost his nerve when through on goal and his strike was well saved.
