Guildford City (2) 6, Chertsey Town (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
The text in the match day programme read “It is clear we have some very good players on the books. During pre-season we saw this in evidence but so far we haven’t fired properly in league matches. I am sure it will come and today wouldn’t be the worse time to start”! And so it proved. To regular supporters memories this was the best City performance seen at the Spectrum for a number of years. Composed at the back, hardworking and creative in midfield, and a threat up front this was a complete performance that impressed fans and neutrals alike. City were soon into their stride and early on Matt Glass found space from a quick free-kick but shot wide. Shortly after on 11 minutes Matt Glass made amends by outpacing the flank defence and cutting into the box he shot left footed past Jack Ogle in the Chertsey goal. Ibby Akanbi down the right was a constant menace and twice he provided half chances in the box. As the half developed Curtis Shaw’s cross field passes began finding City players in threatening positions. First Bobby Dormer bore down on goal but his effort was saved for a corner, and on 35 minutes Matt Glass saw his effort saved by Ogle’s legs. Guildford were playing scintillating football but it seemed as if they would go in at the interval with just a single goal advantage. Then in the 45th minute City’s deadly duo stepped up again. Matt Glass’s pace took him clear but his shot from an angle was blocked by Ogle, only for the ball to fall kindly to Perry Coles who converted from close range.
After the interval Chertsey introduced veteran striker John Pomroy off the bench and for the first 20 minutes they had their best period of the match, albeit without unduly troubling the home rear-guard. Guildford did have an early chance after 48 minutes when interplay between Glass and Coles saw the latter miscue a close range effort wide. A minute after Matt Glass’s audacious attempt at a flicked attempt on goal, City extended their lead further. Perry Coles played a tight 1-2 with Shawn Clement-Peter before shooting low into the net from close range. The same combination of players saw Perry Coles hit the outside of the post on 72 minutes, before on 76 minutes the match was put beyond all doubt. Coles ran onto a bouncing through ball, and his lob over Ogle bounced up and rebounded off the crossbar. Matt Glass reacted smartly to hook the ball home from eight yards. From this point City went on to score two more goals but frankly it could have been five or six more such was the extent of Guildford’s dominance. On 82 minutes debutant Jason Thompson had plenty of time in the box to pick his spot, whilst three minutes later a ball was cleared to the edge of the box where Rob Wickenden fairly smashed it home from 20 yards. In the last minute of normal time Chertsey’s substitute Emanuel Akiotu had space in the box to shoot home but it was merely a consolation. City’s front-line was again excellent, while in Darryl Siaw’s absence with work commitments, Alex Penfold had an outstanding match in central defence.
Team: Jordan Clement, Tom Booth, Alex Penfold, Andre Paul, Curtis Shaw, Bobby Dormer, Ibby Akanbi (Dan Harding 70), Marcel Henry-Francis (Jason Thompson 51), Perry Coles, Matt Glass, Shawn Clement-Peter (Rob Wickenden 75). Unused subs: Tom Bingham.
Referee: Philip Jones
Attendance – 119
Match Photos: Click here
