Horley Town (0) 0, Guildford City (2) 3
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City followed up Saturday glorious 9-3 league victory over Chessington with an equally impressive away victory at fifth placed Horley Town. Make no mistake the home side are having a good season and in the first half especially Horley gave as good as they got. Again this result was a true team effort with Liam Beach dealing well with a barrage of crosses and long throws, with Matt York and Martin Dynan dealing well with the huge Melford Simpson, with Harry Driver and Curtis George industrious in the middle of the park, and with Matt Anton up front, without a goal on this occasion, but particularly hard working closing down and forcing errors. In actual fact the visitors could have been a goal down within 10 seconds of the start; Ashley Nadeson finding space behind the defence only to see Liam Beach make a fine save from his low effort.
This was a high quality game between two good sides and after the early scare both teams spent time pushing and probing searching for weaknesses. Adam Ndidi showed great skill to find space for a cross, whilst there were claims for a penalty when Nathan Chambers went down under pressure. The home side were having chances of their own and came close on 22 minutes when a long throw was flicked on towards the back post where it was headed wide from a good position. A minute later Horley’s giant forward Melford Simpson showed a deft touch for a big man when his chipped attempt drifted just over the crossbar. Amidst a spate of chances at either end it was City who opened the scoring after 24 minutes. Andy Ottley’s free-kick was met by Matt York in the box and Curtis George was on hand to shoot the loose ball home from close range. A minute later Horley came within a whisker of equalising when prolific striker Ashley Nadeson hit the outside of the post with a low drive.
Then in a thrilling three minute spell City set siege to the home goal. Firstly a short corner was played low to the edge of the area where an unmarked Andy Ottley let fly first time only to see George Hyde save spectacularly. Two minutes later Adam Nditi collected the ball in an advanced position and with a feint he fashioned space to let fly an absolute fizzer from 22 yards. This was a truly magnificent goal that moved in the air and dipped below the crossbar at the last moment. The watching Sweeney behind the goal, who have seen most things in the last few years, burst into life to acclaim what will surely be the City goal of the season. Noticeably the effort was clearly admired by the Horley defenders who for several seconds stood stock still looking bemused as to what they had just witnessed. A minute later Nditi was almost on the score sheet again when he intercepted a back pass and lobbed high over the goalkeeper only to see his effort bounce over the crossbar. As if to remind those present that there were two teams in this match Horley themselves came close on 36 minutes when Nadeson’s curling free-kick from 20 yards cleared the crossbar by inches.
Dean Thomas was forced into a half-time reshuffle when Tom Booth replaced Jack Collins who left the fray suffering from back spasms following a knock. On 51 minutes City scored again to give themselves a good start to the second period. On this occasion the goal owed a great deal too good fortune; Andy Ottley’s free-kick into the danger area was deflected into his own net by a despairing Horley defender. In the first period the home side had created and missed some chances. In the second half City’s backline allowed few opportunities and gradually frustration seeped into the home side’s play. City still looked dangerous on the break with Adam Nditi and Josh Drew both posing problems in the game’s late stages. Horley came close to a consolation when a header from a late corner seemed destined for the back of the net, but Florin Ramizi appeared from nowhere to head off the line at the near post. This one incident typified Guildford’s determined performance – disciplined, hardworking and with no little enterprise.
Team: Liam Beach, Jack Collins (Tom Booth 46), Bradley Pegg, Matt York, Martin Dynan, Harry Driver, Nathan Chambers (Josh Drew 90), Curtis George (Florin Ramizi 75), Matt Anton, Andy Ottley, Adam Nditi. Unused sub: Emmanuel Ewuoso.
Referee: Andrey Lashchikov
