Guildford City gained revenge in style for their 5-4 loss at Bedfont not long ago. A Ben Rayner goal direct from a corner set them off, with Jamie King doubling the lead. Tom Penson capitalised on a defensive slip to make it 3-0 shortly before half time. With Bedfont likely to press in the second half, and scoring an unlikely lob, it was up to Jack Guilford to settle matters with a debut goal.
Very little happened in the opening exchanges between the two sides, with Bedfont passing the ball round well in the final third but unable to get any shots on target. Harrison Carnegie and Danny Elgar were linking up well but to little effect.
In the 23rd minute the game sparked into life when City won a corner. Andy Backhurst looked to the sky and moaned, “We NEVER score from corners”. Just as he did this, Ben Rayner struck a beautiful left footed curler that flew straight into the goal for 1-0.
Just a few minutes later Danny Elgar tried to get in on the action with a good free kick but couldn’t get it on target. In the 35th minute City won another corner, Ben Rayner stepping up to take it again amidst cries of “Shoot!” from the City supporters. It came to nothing this time, but just two minutes later City doubled their lead. A free kick midway in Bedfont’s half was flicked on into the box for Jamie King to slot home at the far post for his fifth goal since the New Year.
Bedfont pressed soon after this, but Antony Hall was coping well under pressure from their physical strikers. Things got even better for City five minutes before half time as they worked the ball out of defence with a series of passes. Jamie King knocked the ball to Harrison Carnegie who tried to release Tom Penson down the right wing. Bedfont full back Sterry looked to have it covered, but slipped on the Spectrum pitch, leaving Tom Penson to round the keeper and stroll the ball into the goal. City went in 3-0 up after a clinical first half performance.
Bedfont came on the attack after half time, perhaps remembering that they had been three goals ahead at the same point in the corresponding fixture at their ground a few weeks previously. City didn’t want a taste of their own medicine, but in the 50th minute Bedfont pulled a goal back. George Benn attempted a ludicrous shot from the left wing that caught Antony Hall unaware and looped over his head into the corner of the net.
It was the appropriately named Jack Guilford who settled matters in the 61st minute. Having already hit the post a few minutes beforehand, he picked up the ball inside the area and held off the challenges of Bedfont defenders to finish with finesse. 4-1 to Guildford City.
The match petered out a little as City knew they were cruising to victory. Nevertheless, Bedfont had a great chance to reduce arrears. Antony Hall managed to pounce on a shot that would have hit the back of the net had it not been for the City keeper.
With twenty minutes left Scott Elgar, the younger brother of Danny making an impressive debut, headed towards goal. Lewis in the Bedfont goal made no attempt to gather the ball as it hit the post and a defender scrambled the rebound to touch.
Bedfont’s Morgan tried a speculative shot late on that went well wide. A Danny Elgar cross just evaded the heads of everyone in the box after some good work down the left wing. City saw the match out and finished comfortable victors.
GUILDFORD CITY: A. Hall; R. McCarry (Jack Guilford 53); C. Knight; S. Cooper; J. Thoroughgood; J. King; S. Elgar (S. Carroway 74); B. Rayner; T. Penson; H. Carnegie; D. Elgar (A. Bridgeman 85)
Subs not used: B. Cain; L. Bradnick
Booked: S. Cooper
BEDFONT: D. Lewis; J. Clarke; R. Sterry; P. Joseph; L. Hind; D. Bennell; D. Johns; J. Mngadi; A. Kpunpamo; G. Benn; L. Harrington
Subs: A. Morgan; R. Preedy; L. Coezarck; B. Barton
Booked: L. Harrington
Referee: M. Carmichael
Attendance: 58
