What really can one say? The few City fans that had made the midweek journey to North Leigh were left stunned, as the home side smashed eight goals without reply past a hapless City side. This defeat was City’s heaviest for 55 years. At the opening City competed well and the signs were good. Then with an element of good fortune the ball sliced off a City defender to Morgan Williams wide on the right and his low cross found Conor McDonagh free in the six yard box to convert the chance. On 15 minutes the result was all but decided. Firstly full-back Stuart Hole ran in completely unmarked to head home from a corner, and then two minutes the same player scored from the penalty spot after Aaron Bufton had brought down Aaron Woodley. City’s first real attempt on goal was Kieran Burrell’s long range effort on 23 minutes. With the visitors now wobbling the fourth goal on 34 minutes had a case of comedy capers about it. Ryan Bernard was given the ball centre-field, and some 25 yards from goal where he was dispossessed. Although furiously tracking back Bernard was unable to prevent Conor McDonagh from sliding the ball in the net for a simple goal. Aaron Bufton saved well with his legs on 35 minutes, before North Leigh scored their fifth after further lack of communication.
Half Time: North Leigh 5 – 0 Guildford City
City did play a little better in the second period which was typified by Ben Walshe’s placed shot that drifted just wide. The home side still had more goals in them, and after 50 minutes McDonagh looked likely to score on the break. Sadly for Guildford although Bufton saved the strikers low effort, the ball deflected into the net off of the covering Ryan Bernard. The same player saw a close range header deflected for a corner; before on the hour carelessness in midfield saw Morgan Williams run on to place a shot in the corner. Calvin Thomas came within a whisker of giving City a consolation on 62 minutes when his low drive was tipped onto the post and round for a corner. Ben Walshe then shot wide from 30 yards, before a counter-attack from North Leigh saw them on the score sheet for an eighth and final time; a cross from the left being tapped in unopposed by John Else. In the closing moments Pat Cox worked space on the edge of the box but his effort was saved, and then after a good build up the powerful figure of Tuan West saw a curling shot go just wide.
Team: Aaron Bufton, Kershaney Samuels, Tuan West, Tom Mudge (Bruce McPhail 57), Ryan Bernard, Darren Evans, Calvin Thomas, Ben Walshe, Kieran Burrell (Nassim Dukali 67), Pat Cox, Laurie Walters (Mike Woods 74). Unused subs: Dean Thomas, Will Dukes.
Yellow card: Aaron Bufton
Referee: Kevin Howick
Attendance – 86
