On a chilly Tuesday evening City visited Imber Court to face the Met Police for a second round Surrey Senior Cup tie. The Met Police of the Ryman premier division opened brightly, and exhibited some nice one touch football. City though, on the defensive in the early stages, were coping comfortably. The first real chance of the game came on 14 minutes when the Met’s Charlie Collins got a header in on goal that Will Dukes pushed over the crossbar. A minute later City themselves threatened to get on the score sheet. Omari Hibbert – left back last Saturday but now playing centre forward – made a strong run on the left, leading to Ben Walshe firing a dangerous cross into the home box. Josh Clayman mistimed his volley but the ball fell kindly to Hibbert who couldn’t quite bring the ball down. The Met were still enjoying territorial advantage and Allan Tait’s diving header came close, but largely City’s defence were restricting the home side to long range efforts. The scoring was opened somewhat fortuitously after 27 minutes. A deep free-kick into the visitor’s box was headed back across goal and in the attempt to clear the ball a wicked ricochet lofted the ball over a stranded Will Dukes. Within four further minutes the deficit was three goals! Firstly Jordan Bird was given far too much space in the left channel to drive home inside the far post, and then on 31 minutes Allan Tait scored spectacularly from 25 yards. As so often this season City found themselves up against it, and minutes later Will Dukes saved well to avoid conceding a fourth. Perhaps this save gave Guildford impetus as the visitors noticeably steadied the ship. Indeed Omari Hibbert had a 25 yard blocked, and minutes before the interval the speedy Kevaughn ward got the better of the home defence only to see home keeper Stuart Searle parry the attempted lob.
Half-time: Metropolitan Police 3 – 0 Guildford City
In a bright opening to the second half Kevaugn Ward once again came close; Stuart Searle being forced into a smart save from Ward’s first time effort. The Met’s pass and move style continued to create chances and Allan Tait should have scored a fourth when he side footed wide from close range. Immediately at the other end Ben Walshe’s slide rule pass found Omari Hibbert whose run into the box was only halted by a last ditch challenge. Will Dukes was forced into double save action, before Calvin Thomas latched onto a long ball to cut inside but his effort went into the side netting. Minutes later Thomas repeated his run but this time his powerful effort was expertly saved by Searle. City, in a much improved second-half showing, were unlucky not to get on the score sheet, and it seemed pre-ordained when substitute Alex Afful turned the ball inches wide from Dom Ogun’s cross. A good second half showing from City, and one hopefully that they can take into Saturday’s important league fixture at Shortwood.
Team: Will Dukes, Josh Clayman (Darren Evans 85), Dom Ogun, Brice McPhail, Jamie Thoroughgood, Courtney Cann (Alex Afful 45), Calvin Thomas, Ben Walshe, Omari Hibbert (Jordan Taylor 61), Kevaugn Ward, Darren Stapleton. Unused subs: Nuno Pereira, George Dukes.
Yellow card: Kevaugn Ward
Referee: Alex Neill
Attendance – 32
