Fleet Town (1) 3, Guildford City (0) 2
by Barry Underwood
Guildford City completed a dismal brace of fixtures losing both holiday matches with disappointing performances. The New Year trip to Fleet saw a large crowd assemble including a sizeable Guildford following looking to see their side get back to winning ways. The City side opened brightly enough and after just five minutes Billy Connor rode a challenge to burst into the box, but his early shot just cleared the bar. Harrison Livingstone shot narrowly wide from a good position, whilst Adeyemi’s first touch took him too wide to unleash an effort on goal. After a bright opening Guildford found themselves increasingly pushed back by their enthusiastic hosts. Fleet’s first real sight of goal came on 20 minutes when a shot outside the box clipped the crossbar. Minutes later Mike McEntegart was forced into a diving save. Fleet were dominating now, and another effort narrowly missed the City post following a deflection. With the very last kick of the half City went behind. Guildford lost possession cheaply deep in the own half and a swift pass gave James Beauchamp the chance to round McEntegart and side foot home.
Shortly after the restart Fleet’s Stuart Derry was sent to the sin bin and City looked to take advantage of the numerical advantage. Ethan Nelson-Roberts saw an effort from 10 yards saved low down by Lee Allen, and a minute later Jordan Adeyemi also saw an effort saved. On 55 minutes City did draw level. Nice footwork took Billy Connor past three defenders before he smashed the ball home from an angle. Even stevens it was but after 10 minutes of parity City found another way to concede a goal. A back pass to the keeper saw Mike McEntegart kicked clearance rebound off of the rapidly closing James Beauchamp. The rebound could have gone anywhere but where it did go was into the City net, albeit very slowly. Having worked hard to draw level and then concede in this fashion was heart breaking. With 15 minutes remaining Tristan Rees made a triple substitution to try and turn the game. Regardless it was still Fleet that pushed forward and Isy Nzelo did excellently to clear off his goal line at full stretch. It didn’t prevent a third goal for long. From a corner on 81 minutes Tom Wensley bundled the ball home from close range. A blocking McEntegart save prevented further embarrassment. A fine Billy Connor pass gave Harrison Livingstone the chance to shoot home from 20 yards and with the deficit narrowed there was just a chance of a recovery. But still Fleet went forward – McEntegart again saved one to one – and time ran out with the home side claiming a deserved victory.
Team: Michael McEntegart, Kyrell Palmer (Isy Nzelo 76), Ethan Nelson-Roberts (Nathaniel Mensah 76), Antonio Simeone, Lawson Bright, Yannick Monga, Prince Mbengui (James Faulkner 76), Finley Warren, Jordan Adeyemi, Harrison Livingstone (Kesna Clarke 90+1), Billy Connor. Unused subs: James Glover.
Referee: Daryl Ann
Attendance – 187
NEXT UP | We host AFC Croydon in the league this coming Saturday! Come and support Tristan Rees’s Sweeney as we look to get back on track!
This season we have announced our FOOTBALL FOR A FIVER scheme. Come and watch the Sweeney at the Spectrum for only £5!
