Guildford City recorded a relatively comfortable, if not spectacular, victory against Sandhurst Town in the first match of the season at City’s home ground, the Spectrum. Jaydon Gibbs scored early for the hosts before Dan Moody doubled the lead shortly before the break. An Austin Gacheru goal on the hour mark more or less put the tie to bed, although Sandhurst did earn a deserved goal when Alexander Jeffers scored late on. However, City struck back immediately through Joel Hughes to regain the three goal advantage.
Gibbs curled a well placed shot into the top corner after just four minutes of play, and City were well on top in the opening passage of play. They should have doubled their advantage through Camara and Gacheru but both of City’s strikers found the grateful arms of Matthew Watson in the Sandhurst goal. The middle of the half saw a switch in dominance to the visitors, who put City on the backfoot for a sustained period of play and threatened a number of times, including two gilt edged chances. This made Dan Moody’s goal, after good work down the wing from Gibbs, on 39 minutes all the more important and helped to extinguish some of the Sandhurst resistance.
The second half was well balanced, with both sides having chances to score. A third goal for City came on 58 minutes when Austin Gacheru netted for the hosts. Sandhurst still came at City however, despite the three goal deficit, and they were rewarded in the 82nd minute when Jeffers caught the defence flat footed and finished past Hall in the City goal. The three goal cushion was regained within a minute though, when Joel Hughes prodded home his second of the season. The final margin of defeat was a little harsh on Sandhurst, who put up a good fight, but Guildford City took the three points with a sensible performance from front to back.
Guildford City:
Hall, Defreitas, Rayner [Capt], Chaplin, Thoroughgood, Holder, Moody (Knight 87), Oudjidane, Gacheru (Debrah 80), Camara (Hughes 60), Gibbs.
Unusued substitutes: Bradnick, Clayton
Cautions: Defreitas, Hughes
Referee: Ian Kitchen
Attendance: 103
Video highlights by TRS available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YKXgfdqYg4
Photos by Simon Roe available here: http://www.simonroephotography.co.uk/Guildford%20City%20vs%20Sandhurst%20Town%20100811/
