Guildford City (3) 4, Badshot Lea (0) 2
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City returned to action after a 14 day break, but there was no hint of rustiness about their performance as they claimed the points against an inform Badshot Lea side. After a batch of player departures, and with Chris Tancock and Mark Watkins still on the injured list, the City line-up featured several new names. In midfield Dan Band – signed days before from Walton & Hersham – made his debut whilst on the bench Nathaniel Williams returned to the club after a short spell at Colliers Wood. Joining him on the bench was another new face in the form of striker Benga Ogunseye who has scored goals at a number of clubs including Badshot Lea.
Right from the kick-off City moved the ball quickly causing problems in the visitors defence. On six minutes Eli Ogunseye got to the by-line before pulling the ball back across goal. Dan Band shot goal wards where the ball was parried to Evan Lopes whose effort was saved by Jordan Clement. The energetic Band was covering a lot of ground in the middle of the park and on 13 minutes he won the ball back before immediately putting Kyen Nicholas into space on the left from where his effort on goal was well saved by Clement. City were by now totally dominant and Bobby Webbe saw a 30 yard free-kick fizz just past the post. There might have been a penalty when Eli Ogunseye received a heavy challenge in the back, but the opening goal wasn’t long delayed. Kyen Nicholas again received the ball on the left edge of the box but his low cross into the box was diverted into the net off of a covering defender. A second goal followed on 31 minutes and what a goal this was. Bobby Webbe’s defence splitting pass released Eli Ogunseye and his low cross was turned in by Kyen Nicholas at the near post. Five minutes later another perfect pass from Webbe again released the speed man Eli Ogunseye and this time he cut in towards goal before shooting low past the advancing Clement. Moments before the half-time whistle Kyen Nicholas limped off to be replaced by Benga Ogunseye. Eli and Benga thus became the latest set of brothers following Anthony and Michael Hall, and Graham and Tommy Tydeman to pull on a City shirt in the same game.
Badshot certainly upped their game in the second period and the game lost something of its first-half intensity. On 53 minutes Jack May shot just wide in the visitors first meaningful shot on goal, whilst minutes later a Bobby Webbe effort was parried and gathered at the second attempt by Jordan Clement. On the hour Dan Band won the ball and immediately looked to play Benga Ogunseye into space. The debutant found space for a shot and his dragged effort narrowly missed the far post. Minutes later Badshot got themselves on the scoreboard. The visitors quickly played a free-kick deep into City territory where Liam Roberts collected the ball in space before firing home from the edge of the box. Eli Ogunseye remained a complete menace to the opposition and not for the first time on 65 minutes he worked back to take the ball of a Badshot player in possession. Unselfishly he set up Benga Ogunseye who mishit his effort from 15 yards. Shortly after there might have been another penalty when the charging Eli Ogunseye went down heavily in the box but the referee waved play on. With three minutes remaining on the clock Badshot pulled another goal back when Liam Roberts cleverly lifted a free-kick over the wall and into the corner of the net. Wow game on with just minutes remaining! A minute later City conceded another free-kick in an identical position and home nerves were jangling. Thankfully this time the free-kick was charged down and the ball cleared. Two minutes into stoppage time Eli Ogunseye put paid to the uncertainty. Benga Ogunseye found his brother in the box and Eli Ogunseye calmly lifted the ball over Clement to confirm an impressive victory.
Team: Liam Beach, Sean Mason, Josh Burrowes, David Burton, Nemo Adams, Luke Beale, Elijah Ogunseye, Dan Band (Gavin Hawkins 84), Kyen Nicholas (Benga Ogunseye 44), Bobby Webbe, Evan Lopes (Nathaniel Williams 68). Unused sub: Billy Irving.
Referee: Lawrence Torz-Brown
Attendance – 67
Chris Balchin Post Match Interview
