REPORT: GUILDFORD CITY 0 SOUTHALL 0 (3-4 PENALTIES)

Guildford City 0, Southall 0 (3-4 Penalties)
by Barry Underwood

Guildford exited the FA Vase at the Spectrum yesterday in a tense, hard fought and goalless draw. On a heavy pitch both sides battled hard and the game, despite not being a thriller, was absorbing and there was no doubting the effort displayed by those on the pitch. In the end the game went to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out where the visitors triumphed 4-3 to advance to the fourth round.

It was a game of few clear chances with both defences performing well. In the first period Southall certainly had an edge territorially, and two early long range efforts went narrowly wide of the post. Southall’s best chance of the match came on 15 minutes when after fine interplay on the right a shot on the turn struck the City post and was cleared. Moments after Ethan Nelson-Roberts made a goal saving block at full stretch. City’s first presentable chance saw the unlikely figure of Max Oldham head the ball back across goal where Nat Mensah missed a difficult volley chance. On the half hour Mike Coppinger ran strongly into the six-yard box where his shot was blocked and probably a square pass was the better option. Moments before the half-time break James Glover attacked an in-swinging corner and was desperately close to making contact.

City showed more in offense during the second period with Max Oldham enjoying a golden spell early in the half. His first cross from the right just a minute after the restart was just beyond the stretching Mensah. Minutes later following a strong run Oldham crossed low across the box to be met by the onrushing Nat Mensah at the back of the goal. Somehow Mensah’s effort skewed across the goal where Max Oldham was also unable to convert. There were chances at either end. Mike Coppinger cut inside before shooting over. At the other end Mike McEntegart saved a low effort onto the post, and moments later he saved brilliantly at the feet of a rampaging striker. In the final moments following a corner the skipper Antonio Simeone hooked a bouncing ball wide, whilst Southall also saw a late effort go just wide.

So, the match moved to a penalty shoot-out. Barkley Laurencin the Southall keeper brilliantly saved both Mensah and Simeone’s efforts, whilst their own penalty takers took exemplary spot-kicks giving Mike McEntegart no chance. So Southall advance to the fourth round where we wish them all good fortune.

Team: Mike McEntegart, Kyrell Palmer, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, James Glover, Antonio Simeone, Prince Mbengui, Yannick Monga, Mike Coppinger, Max Oldham, Nathaniel Mensah, Billy Connor. Unused subs: Campbell Scott, Josh Everard, Chris Adams Kesna Clarke, Sean Mason, Jackson Hogg.

Referee: Daniel Bishop

Attendance – 130