Corinthian-Casuals (2) 3, Guildford City (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
After an encouraging performance in their last outing at the weekend, Guildford reverted somewhat to their previous performances. Casuals dominated possession throughout the match. But for much of the first period City weren’t unduly troubled by the pressure and it appeared that they would go in at the interval just a single goal down. With seconds remaining of the half a free kick was controversially awarded on the edge of Guildford’s penalty area. The referee acknowledged the tackle was fair but the follow through too vigorous! Casuals Andre Coker wasn’t bothered either way as he shot low around the wall and into the corner. There had been few incidents of note early on barring Casuals opening goal on 27 minutes. That goal came when Coker found space in the right side of the box to drill low inside the back post. Guildford had few forays forward but from one Sam Sesay intercepted a pass and his 22-yard shot on the volley was comfortably saved. Sesay later fired in a cross that saw a header go wide and that was as good as it got for City going forward. Then at the death Casuals scored their second to take a decisive lead.
City keeper Bill Wilson, who had been injured in the first period, didn’t reappear after the break. Instead, winger Azeez Elegushi donned the gloves but within a minute Clayton Afonso had headed home a corner for Casuals to go three up. City had their moments up field, notably with crosses into the box, but they were unable to seriously trouble the goalkeeper. Stand-in keeper Azeez Elegushi entertained the Casuals crowd massed behind his goal with some strong footwork, and on 74 minutes he got a touch to a powerful drive that went for a corner. So another defeat for City who will need to find more offensively if they are the lift themselves from the foot of the table.
Team: Bill Wilson (Charlie Robertson 46), Naison O’Neill, Sam Sesay (Frank Boamah 69), Ben Drake, Tre Woolliscroft, Alexander-William Nwadike, Kallum Peart (Jude Sullivan 57), Joe Atkin (Joel Oppong 46), Jojo Ampah, Kai Zini (Tobi Falodi 69), Azeez Elegushi.
Referee: Aaron Beswick
Attendance – 180