Cobham (1) 1, Guildford City (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
A solitary first-half goal from the home side was enough to send Guildford City back down the A3 without a point. It was a disappointing City performance with Cobham, and especially Niall Stilwell, dominating the midfield. Having conceded twice on Saturday in the first three minutes of the match it was essential that Guildford didn’t concede early. That said there was an early scare that saw a shot just clear the crossbar. Thereafter chances were restricted as City’s defence largely kept the home side at bay, but certainly in an offensive sense Guildford were disappointingly limited. From City’s first corner Enow Ojong’s attempt cleared the crossbar, and minutes later Stephan Langley shot over from a good position. Cobham scored what proved to be their match winning goal on 18 minutes, and it came directly from a free kick just outside the box. Guildford’s players were aghast at the decision to award a foul feeling that Langley’s tackle had cleanly taken the ball. When the free kick lifted over the wall and into the net City certainly felt aggrieved. The visitors responded with an attacking free kick of their own from Timmy Taylor which saw Cobham’s Harvey Keogh save well low down. On 34 minutes Charlie Samuels had a great chance to round the keeper but his first touch let him down.
Guildford posed more of an attacking threat after the break but were still largely unable to create strong chances in front of goal. Stuart Norman did save well at the near post early on but his defence in front of him did well to nullify Cobham’s attacking threat. On the hour the overlapping Timmy Taylor saw his low cross blocked. When the rebound returned to him his goal bound effort was also blocked. Guildford’s best chance of the game soon followed. Jamie Pearce’s shot was blocked but Zeid Hannachi was able to feed the loose ball into the path of Charlie Samuels in space 15 yards out. There was time for a touch, but Samuel’s hurried effort sliced well wide of the target. Home fans nerves were fraying as the game entered stoppage time, but despite concerted late pressure Guildford couldn’t force an equaliser.
Team: Stuart Norman, Stephan Langley, Timmy Taylor, Joe Jarrett (Michael Leech 83), Oliver Creed, Lloyd Connelly, Enow Ojong (Jamie Pearce 58), Olly Edwardes (Ashley Hitchinson 68), Billy Murphy (Leon Dadey 73), Zeid Hannachi (Nathaniel Williams 83), Charlie Samuel.
Referee: Josh Howard
