Colliers Wood United (1) 1, Guildford City (1) 2
by Barry Underwood
Following last weekend’s appointment of Nikki Bull as first team manager, City made the journey up the A3 to face Colliers Wood at their Wibbandune home. Credit to the host club as it was an improved Wibbandune stadium since our last visit with new turnstile block, refurbished clubhouse, improved fencing and enhanced parking facilities. The Guildford side fielded two 18-year-old debutants; striker Ethan Etukudo on dual registration from Chertsey Town and Fariz Khallouqi who impressed playing for the development team midweek.
From the off the City players showed better energy closing down the opposition at every opportunity and they dominated the early stages. But Colliers soon made some headway, and a 25-yard effort went just wide, followed shortly after by Mike McEntegart saving with his legs at close range. On 11 minutes City counter attacked swiftly and got themselves on the scoreboard. Harrison Livingstone burst out of the middle of the park and found Ethan Etukudo on the edge of the box. Etukudo was able to swiftly return the favour and Livingstone was able to fire home from 15 yards. Almost immediately Kyrell Palmer intercepted a defensive back pass, but his square ball was cleared by the Colliers defence. Having taken the lead Guildford seemed to take their foot off the pedal a little, and on the half hour Colliers gained a controversial penalty. The referee judged that Mike McEntegart followed through into a Colliers striker and Sean Bradley made no mistake from the spot. In the late stages of the half Ethan Nelson-Roberts set his namesake Etukudo up with a shooting chance but the tall striker delayed slightly, and the effort was blocked.
In a game with lots of whistle the City fans behind the goal were adamant that they should have had a penalty within minutes of the restart. Ethan Etukudo did well to round a defender by the corner flag and cleverly he headed for the penalty area along the goal line. His run ended by being upended in the box but with the referee pointing only for a corner. The 17 match wait for a City penalty goes on. On 58 minutes however Guildford did regain the lead. Etukudo set Harrison Livingstone free down the right and his excellent cross into the box was met by Alfie Huckle who netted from close range. Two minutes later Fariz Khallouqi blazed over from the edge of the box as the visitors looked to put the game to bed. Similarly, Harrison Livingstone saw a piledrioved comfortably saved by Mackenzie Foley. In the late stages Colliers piled forward in search of an equaliser, and City were indebted to Mike McEntegart for making what proved to be a match-winning blocking save with his legs.
Team: Mike McEntegart, Kyrell Palmer, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Alfie Huckle, Antonio Simeone, James Glover, Finley Warren, Yannick Monga, Ethan Etukudo (Lawson Bright 77), Harrison Livingstone, Fariz Khallouqi. Unused subs: Mike Coppinger, Campbell Scott, Jack Coleman.
Referee: Nic Hucker
NEXT UP | This coming Saturday we travel to face Colliers Wood United in Nikki Bull’s first game in charge of the Sweeney!
This season we have announced our FOOTBALL FOR A FIVER scheme. Come and watch the Sweeney at the Spectrum for only £5!
