Guildford City (1) 0, Cobham (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
It wasn’t a pretty game but for Guildford City it produced the three points and a clean sheet to boot. In a division where the battle at the foot of the league is as intense as the battle at the top, a win was important to keep some momentum and stay ahead of the relegation positions. The only goal of the match and ultimately City’s winner came in just the second minute. Scott Costello 25 yards out from goal half-volleyed a loose ball which sailed into the net leaving Andy Westphal in the visitor’s goal rooted to the spot. Confusion in the home defence nearly gifted Cobham a goal but the loose ball trickled just wide of the post. On 20 minutes Tommy Brunton, enjoying his first start, found space in the box but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved. Cobham then exerted some pressure. At length City managed to clear the ball after a prolonged scramble in the box. Moments later former City player Kyle Henry glanced a header wide at the back post. In response Guildford came mighty close to scoring a second goal. Ricardo Andre did well on the left and put Scott Costello in on goal. Westphal though saved Costello’s low shot and Cameron Edwin’s follow up was acrobatically cleared off the line.
The second half started in the same vein although in the late stages it was Cobham who went forward in numbers in search of an equaliser. But it was City who opened the half in lively fashion. Immediately after the restart Enow Ojong’s cross hit the crossbar at the back of the goal. The same player hooked an effort wide from an angle after a flick-on from a long throw. Ojong started to enjoy some success down the left flank and on the hour his low cross just evaded the fast arriving Scott Costello. It wasn’t one way traffic and moments later a shot on the turn from the visitors saw a low effort drift just wide of the post. As the game entered its final stages Cobham pushed forward. With five minutes remaining it seemed that the visitors would net their equaliser. All match long their set piece delivery into the box had been exemplary, and from a corner a goal bound header was saved spectacularly by Stuart Norman. The loose ball seemed certain to be converted at the back post but somehow Norman got across to claw the ball off the line. In stoppage time Norman again saved at the expense of a corner but shortly after the whistle blew to confirm City’s win.
Team: Stuart Norman, Stephan Langley, Leon Dadey (Sam Hunt 82), Tommy Brunton (Neil Roissetter 90), Campbell Scott, Jamie Pearce, Scott Costello, Ashley Hitchinson, Cameron Edwin (Joe Condon 56), Enow Ojong (Cameron Gyeabour 72), Ricardo Andre (Shane Cheeseman 64).
Referee: Andrew Batten
Attendance – 84
