Frimley Green (0) 0, Guildford City (1) 4
by Barry Underwood
Guildford guaranteed their place in the Premier division next year with victory at Frimley Green. The hosts have endured a very difficult season and they will be pleased that the season has come to an end so that they can regroup next season. City came out of the traps in positive fashion. A strong run through the middle by Scott Costello saw Reeves save low down, and then again from Leon Dadey at close range. City took the lead after seven minutes when a corner bounced through into the box and Shane Rideout turned the ball in from six yards. Twice during the first period Guildford had two stonewall penalty shouts way. First Leon Dadey was clipped from beyond as he bore down on goal, and secondly after Costello’s shot had been parried, Shane Rideout was vigorously barged over as he went for the loose ball. Frimley’s sole attacking moment of the game came on 24 minutes when a deep cross was headed back across goal and Richard Shelley defied his age by arching backward to tip the effort onto the bar. In a goalmouth scramble after a long throw Ashley Hitchinson twice saw efforts blocked on the line before being cleared.
City came straight out in the second half looking to extend their lead. Within two minutes Jack Webb saw a great chance well saved by James Reeves, and a resulting loose ball saw Jamil Saleh’s effort blocked on the line. Guildford were completely dominant in the second-half. Shi O’Connor’s lobbed attempt was saved at full stretch by Reeves, but pressure told on 53 minutes when Hegarty’s long throw was headed home by Scott Costello. Minutes later a high ball into the box from Saleh threatened to go in the top corner, but again Reeves saved the day for the home side. There was a raft of substitutes from both sides but the momentum didn’t change. Guildford scored their third on 83 minutes when Shi O’Connor cut inside two defenders and shot inside the far post. Frimley’s James Reeves, who amazingly doesn’t usually play goalkeeper, saved brilliantly three minutes later from Cameron Gyeabour’s powerful effort. As the clocked clicked round to 90 minutes City finished the scoring. Again it was Shi O’Connor who muscled past a defender and nudged the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Team: Richard Shelley, Ashley Hitchinson (Stephan Langley 60), Billy Nutbeam, Jamil Saleh, Campbell Scott, Tom Hegarty, Jack Webb (Harvey Valter 81), Scott Costello (Tommy Brunton 77), Shane Rideout, Shiloh O’Connor, Leon Dadey (Cameron Gyeabour 63). Unused sub: Stuart Norman
Referee: Simon Weston
Attendance – 82
