Redhill (2) 3, Guildford City (2) 2
by Barry Underwood
City travelled to in-form Redhill on Tuesday with acting manager Tristan Rees in charge of team affairs. Although it was the home side that claimed victory Guildford improved considerably on their weekend performance. Things had looked ominous when Redhill opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute. A huge throw into the box wasn’t cleared and Josh Phillips was on hand to convert from close range. But Guildford looked lively going forward and on 11 minutes they came close. A measured Coppinger pass found Andre Smith free in the box, but his first touch let him down at the crucial moment. Stuart Norman then saved well to keep City in the game. On 20 minutes Guildford most definitely were still in the game when to the evident surprise of the home side they equalised. Dan Stewart headed the ball on to Kieran Williams who volleyed the ball home for his first goal for the club. Now more confident Guildford looked dangerous and Andre Smith thumped a shot into the side netting from an acute angle. On 32 minutes Guildford nudged ahead. A lovely flick on by Smith set Dan Stewart free and he calmly slid the ball past the keeper. The home side did manage an equaliser before the break and again it was from a set-piece. It looked initially as if the corner had been defended. But not well enough and again the ball was netted from close range.
Immediately from the restart Eli Ogunseye attacked the box and shot from an acute angle when a better option may have been a square ball. Gradually Guildford’s influence on the game declined and the visitor’s goal came under pressure. Several times Stuart Norman had to be at his best, and on 68 minutes the diminutive Danyaal Iqbal hit the post. It was no real surprise therefore when Redhill scored what proved to be the winner. A cross flashed across the box and Iqbal shot first time into the net. With seven minutes remaining Theo Woodhouse was shown a second yellow leaving Guildford down to 10 men. In the final moments Guildford came close to snatching an equaliser. Substitute Cyril Ocansey beat his man on the right, but his pass was slightly behind Dan Stewart who couldn’t get enough power into his shot.
Team: Stuart Norman, Billy Irving, Louis Hiobi, Theo Woodhouse, Sean Mason, Josh Everard (David Burton 81), Eli Ogunseye (Cyril Ocansey 78), Kieran Williams, Andre Smith, Mike Coppinger, Dan Stewart. Unused subs: Luke Beale, Stephane Zolo.
Referee: Calum Edgcombe
