Guildford City (0) 2, Infinity (3) 4
by Barry Underwood
City’s unbeaten run in the league came to an end when title favourites Infinity arrived at the Spectrum. The visitors reached the play-off finals in the last two seasons and strong recruitment this summer marks the club out for a concerted championship challenge. When your main striker Zack Willetts has a prolific goalscoring record at steps four and five and is described by his manager as the best striker at step six across the country, you know that things are looking rosy. A forward line to die for perhaps but not necessarily the same to be said of their defence. In the opening minutes a clearance went straight to Sandy Perera whose early shot forced a good save out of Matt Gregg in Infinity’s goal. Soon after Josh Williams dispossessed a defender and faced with just the goalkeeper his low shot was blocked by Gregg’s legs. After these early chances Infinity grew into the game and looked to be a side of quality. On 21 minutes the visitors took the lead. Zack Willetts had already spun and turned a cross over the bar, but he was given a second opportunity and his first time effort found the back of the net. Infinity lifted several gears at this point and things looked ominous for Guildford. Willetts acrobatically put an overhead kick wide, and Owen O’Neill shot over from a good position. A ball was then pulled back to the edge of the box, and a powerful low effort was brilliantly saved by Jacob Slyfield. In a rare few moments of pressure Dan Way’s excellent cross found nobody in the box, and Josh Williams run down the left led to his effort going wide at the near post. On 43 minutes Infinity went two up when a cross to the back post was headed home by Lewis Beale. To emphasise their superiority Infinity scored again in stoppage time. This time a free kick from near the corner flag was hit with some force and went over everybody and into the top corner.
Guildford made a double change at the break with debutants Henry Woods and George Bamgboye entering the fray. Within three minutes of the restart Guildford scored when Williams and Bamgboye combined and George Bamgboye turned the ball home. There was now just a hint of a Guildford recovery. The ever-dangerous Willets broke through, and his pile driver forced an excellent save from Slyfield. On the hour Infinity scored their fourth. The City defence was left stranded from a cross and Josh Cooper smashed the ball home. Within minutes Jacob Slyfield twice saved well to prevent the margin widening. On 67 minutes City almost scored again when Josh Williams toe poke all but crossed the line before being cleared. George Bamgboye continued to look dangerous, and with Josh Williams there was a threat to the visitors. Jacob Slyfield saved again to prevent Evan Harris firing home. On 82 minutes City pulled another goal back. A ball at the back of the box was delicately lobbed home by Ronnie Lee for his first goal for the club. In the final moments Jacob Slyfield made two further cracking saves to keep the score respectable. In all my time of watching football at this level I haven’t seen a better attacking display with such accurate and powerful shooting. It will take a very good side to prevent Infinity winning the league come April time.
Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas, Dan Way (Henry Woods 45), Rory Cornelius (Harry Brine 73), Reece Killick, Dan Rolland, Josh Williams, Cameron Honarvar (George Bamgboye 45), Harry Hennem, Sandhalu Perera (Ronnie Lee 67), Tyreke Martin (Wayne Grigg 67).
Referee: Daniel Vernon
Attendance – 139
