Sheerwater (0) 1, Guildford City (1) 1
by Barry Underwood
With just four fixtures remaining every point is vital in Guildford’s fight against relegation. At the Eastwood stadium on Saturday the City side performed heroically but couldn’t claim what would have been an important three points. Guildford came out with all guns blazing and throughout the first period they played excellent football and thoroughly deserved their half-time lead. Early on Callum Hope tried to pick his spot but lifted the ball over the bar, whilst minutes later Joel Oppong’s effort was tipped over at full stretch by Sheer’s keeper Henry Grad. In a rare moment of concern at the back Bertie Saunders cleared off his goal line, but it was going forward where Guildford dominated. On 33 minutes Naison O’Neill overlapped on the right and his low cross just evaded the onrushing Charlie Bland. Sheer’s Aidan Larkin rather spoiled his strong approach run with an under hit shot but still it was City who looked the more dangerous. On 38 minutes Guildford took the lead. A great through ball saw Joel Oppong through on goal but his effort was well blocked by Grad. The loose ball went wide towards the touchline where it was retrieved by Kai Zini who curled an excellent shot over bodies in the box and into the far corner! Guildford had a golden chance to score a second on the cusp of half-time. Oppong’s cross from the byline was headed back across goal by Tyrese Agbontaen where Charlie Bland somehow hit the underside of the crossbar from a yard out.
City lost Ben Drake injured at the interval causing a defensive reshuffle. The home side were much improved after the break without posing too much of a threat to the visitor’s goal. On 53 minutes Sheerwater got back on level terms. A ball into the right channel saw Aiden Larkin in plenty of space and his low shot from outside the box found the net inside the near post. Guildford still had much of the ball in an attacking sense without fashioning the final opening. Joel Oppong’s run ended with a blocked shot, and lively substitute Abdullah Selloum’s spectacular overhead kick went straight to the goalkeeper. In the late stages there were chances at both ends. A scramble in the City goalmouth saw the ball cleared, whilst there was uproar amongst the large group of City fans when Abdullah Selloum, when through on goal, went down in the box under a challenge but the referee ruled no foul. On 87 minutes George Hyde saved brilliantly to keep City in the game. Deep in stoppage time Grad saved Abdullah Selloum’s header, and the sides had to settle for a point a piece.
Team: George Hyde, Naison O’Neill, Callum Hope, Ben Drake (Abdullah Selloum 46), Bertie Saunders, Joe Atkin (Sonny Cooper 81), Tyrese Agbontaen (Alex McLean 90), Charlie Bland, Sam Sesay, Kai Zini, Joel Oppong (Ben Matthews 90). Unused sub: Luca Le Page.
Referee: Matthew Topp
Photograph by Luke Davidson