Guildford City 1 – 5 Molesey FC: Match Report

 

Guildford City fell to a heavy home defeat against promotion chasing Molesey on Wednesday evening. The home side’s cause wasn’t helped by conceding immediately from the kick-off and despite a spirited response, Molesey’s supply from midfield, movement up front and clinical finishing was generally too much for City, and young Liam Beach in goal was several times left with the visitor’s rampant strikers bearing down on him.  There was some enterprising play from the home side and City’s forward line could in turn have narrowed the deficit but this match will go down as another stage on the steep learning curve.

 

Within twenty seconds of kick-off the ball nestled in the City net! A long ball forward surprised the sleeping home defence and Matt Baxter found himself through on goal and he didn’t need a second invitation, finishing with aplomb. After the worst possible start to the game City did settle and they did make attacking inroads. On-loan striker Jack Knight in particular was proving a handful to the Molesey defence, and one twist and 40 yard run to the edge of the box was impressive indeed. It was therefore no great surprise that City pulled themselves back onto level terms. Molesey stalwart Moses Spencer conceded a corner which was mishandled by Liam Allen, and Jack Knight was close at hand to bundle the ball home. Having hauled themselves back into the game it was imperative that City didn’t concede again but on 35 minutes Baxter again got the wrong side of the defence and again his finish was clinical, drilling a low shot through the legs of the advancing Beach. Just one goal down going into the interval wouldn’t have been a disaster but again the propensity to concede on the stroke of half-time raised its head. A long throw was flicked on at the near post and Ross Chalke was on hand to head home from close range.

 

Victory in Molesey’s favour was confirmed just five minutes into the second period. Possession was lost deep and Pietro Palladini was alert enough to escape the attention of the City defence to run free and slot a low shot past Liam Beach. After this setback Guildford showed a marked improvement. Jack Collins at the back looked commanding and going forward City suddenly started to create chances on goal. On 54 minutes Dan Stewart saw a lob from the edge of the box headed off the line, and from the rebound Jack Knight thundered a close range effort against the crossbar. Liam Beach was called into action to make a fine close range save, but late in the game both Knight and Dan Stewart shot wide from good positions. Tom Windsor headed home from close range in the 88^th minute to complete Molesey’s impressive victory, whilst City will learn and move on to their next encounter.

 

Team: Liam Beach, Florin Ramizi, Liam Talbot, Bruce McPhail, Jack Collins, David Unwin (Harri Findlay 45), Jordan Taylor, Anthony Baker (John Barrow 85), Jack Knight, Mert Varli (Navid Zandi 65), Dan Stewart. Unused sub: Josh Hall

 

Referee: Gareth Mays

 

Attendance – 87