Redhill (1) 3, Guildford City (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
In-form Redhill overcame a battling Guildford City side at Kiln Brow on Tuesday. Although well beaten the City side worked hard throughout, and the home side will have known they had been in a battle. Following the recent rains, the pitch was soft but certainly playable, and in the early stages Guildford showed their commitment a little too vigorously by conceding a succession of free kicks. Guildford’s defensive work wasn’t an issue, but too often hard-won possession was being squandered. One such error led to a Redhill attack that was thwarted by a fine block from Luke Beale. Guildford’s chances were limited in the first period with the first real attack seeing Cyril Ocansey’s first time effort go wide. On 25 minutes it seemed Redhill must score when a long ball forward was missed by the advancing Devon Gordon. But Nemo Adams was brilliantly placed on the line to clear the resulting shot. Towards the end of the half City looked more adventurous and twice tight passing moves on the edge of the box threatened but came to nothing. It was a blow therefore when the home side took the lead on 40 minutes. A low cross from the right was turned home by Mo Diakite for his 10th goal in the last 12 matches. On the cusp of the interval City came close when Cyril Ocansey’s low cross just eluded debutant Olalekan Osideko in the box.
How would Guildford respond after the break. Well the workload didn’t dip but still loss of possession was preventing meaningful advancement down the pitch. Early on Devon Gordon saved well following a free kick, before on 55 minutes Redhill scored a second goal; a low ball was fired across the box where the unmarked Derick Hayford tucked it home. Five minutes later it was three and City were looking down both barrels. Once more the ball was cheaply given away in midfield allowing Mo Diakite to run at the defence and score his second of the night. In the aftermath of the goal City introduced from the bench Josh Ogunseye for the limping Luke Beale, and Chertsey U21 captain Alfie Huckle in midfield. Minutes later Bobby Webbe was also heading for the dressing room. Seconds after being sent to the sin bin Webbe thought it necessary to test his command of Anglo-Saxon, resulting in the sin bin being converted to a red card. As if life wasn’t hard enough. But credit to the City team who rolled up their sleeves for the remainder of the match. Indeed, for the last six or seven minutes of the match Guildford belatedly sprung into life. A fine Cyril Ocansey run and cross from the by-line gave Alfie Huckle chance to score with a composed finish, and with the last kick of the game Ocansey himself had a shot saved after good work from Nemo Adams.
Team: Devon Gordon, Sean Mason, Josh Burrowes, Bobby Dormer, Nemo Adams, Luke Beale (Josh Ogunseye 61), Olalekan Osideko (Alfie Huckle 61), Bobby Webbe, Cyril Ocansey, Marlon Pinder, Kieran Williams (Youcef Azzouz 70). Unused subs: Coran Inboli, Dan Hurlow.
Referee: David Payne