Guildford City (0) 0, Frimley Green (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Following a tough battle on a heavy Spectrum pitch a threadbare Frimley Green side came away with the three points courtesy of a late Bradley Pegg goal. Full credit to the visitors who looked the more motivated on a grim morning for a football match. From the opening whistle Frimley looked livelier and after seven minutes they thought they had claims for a penalty which were waved away by referee Ross Murphy. Minutes later City responded in spectacular style when Harrison Livingstone volleyed just wide from Jordan Adeyemi’s cross. Adeyemi soon after saw a shot comfortably saved by Chris Harris in the visitor’s goal. Frimley had much of the possession, but City had moments on the counterattack. From one break Mike Coppinger’s pass took Adeyemi wider than he would have wished, and what could have been a one-on-one opportunity ended in a speculative shot by Kyrell Palmer that went well wide of the target. Around the half hour City twice came close. From a free-kick Antonio Simeone headed just over, and minutes later from a corner a scramble led to Simeone’s shot being blocked on the line and spinning wide of the post. Frimley twice had dangerous free kicks just outside the box. The first was comfortably held by Mike McEntegart, whilst the second was blocked in the wall with the rebound being curled just wide. Late in the half City conjured a fine passing move that ended disappointedly with Jordan Adeyemi blazing high over the bar.
Shortly after the restart a good move saw Nathaniel Mensah’s shot blocked, and from the second stage Frimley’s keeper spilled a cross that Mensah wasn’t able to deflect goalward. But Frimley looked increasingly dangerous from set pieces with Sam Hutchings delivery causing problems in the home defence. From one corner City scrambled the ball off their goal line with the visitors claiming the ball had crossed the line. A similar corner moments later saw the ball scrambled wide by the defence. Guildford had improved in the second period and on 58 minutes Mike Coppinger spun well on the edge of the box but shot just wide. Minutes later Jordan Adeyemi forced Harris into a fine diving save for a corner. The game’s solitary goal came on 80 minutes following a free kick. McEntegart saved the initial effort that was pushed wide of the post. Marcus Cousins was alert to the loose ball and slid it across the six-yard box where Bradley Pegg converted from close range. With five minutes remaining 17-year-old James Faulkner had a good shooting chance but like a myriad of other City chances during the match the ball cleared the crossbar. In stoppage time Harrison Livingstone shot wide and when the final whistle sounded the visiting side were understandably pleased with their efforts. For City a very disappointing festive result.
Team: Michael McEntegart, Kyrell Palmer (Kesna Clarke 87), Isy Nzelo, James Glover, Antonio Simeone, Prince Mbengui (Finley Warren 62), Yannick Monga, Mike Coppinger, Nathaniel Mensah (James Faulkner 66), Harrison Livingstone, Jordan Adeyemi. Unused subs: Lawson Bright, Ethan Nelson-Roberts.
Referee: Ross Murphy
Attendance – 112
NEXT UP | Our first game of 2022 see’s us travel to face Fleet Town in another bank holiday monday fixture! Come and support Tristan Rees’s Sweeney!
This season we have announced our FOOTBALL FOR A FIVER scheme. Come and watch the Sweeney at the Spectrum for only £5!
