Guildford City (2) 4, Horley Town (3) 3
by Barry Underwood
Guildford’s 22-23 season came to an entertaining end at Sheerwater’s Eastwood Stadium. In a match played at Sheerwater due to the unavailability of the Spectrum, seven goals were scored in an end-to-end encounter. The visitors were the better side in the first period and City did well to go in at half-time with just a single goal deficit.
That said Guildford started the match like an express train. Before a minute was on the clock Cameron Gyeabour had rounded the keeper, but not trusting his weaker foot, his effort was comfortably blocked on the line. A minute later an excellent Nutbeam cross was deflected just wide by Shane Rideout. As the home sides influence faded, so Horley’s rose and they took the lead on 15 minutes. A low cross from the right was turned in from close range by Adam Grant. It didn’t look like Guildford’s evening when on 23 minutes they went two behind thanks to a Jake Roberts penalty. City were back in the game on 31 minutes. A nice Jamil Saleh pass gave Billy Nutbeam the chance to cross for Cameron Gyeabour to head into the corner. Frustratingly within two minutes City again fell two goals behind. The ball was sloppily given away in defence and Josh Rapson shot home from the edge of the box. Then on the stroke of half-time City once again brought the deficit back to one. There was an air of good fortune about the goal as Shi O’Connor’s teasing low cross beat everybody in the box and crept into the corner of the goal.
Guildford looked much brighter after the break, although early on it was Horley that saw a long-range effort tipped over by Craig Smith. City’s Cameron Gyeabour was looking decidedly dangerous. His effort on 55 minutes went wide of goal under pressure. But minutes later Gyeabour was on the scoresheet again. An excellent Stephan Langley run and cross was met by Gyeabour who side footed the ball home from eight yards. The same striker also saw a shot blocked, and another go wide as Guildford dominated the second period. A 30-yard effort from Jamil Saleh dipped just over the crossbar, and with seven minutes remaining a fine Leon Dadey run led to Harvey Valter’s shot being blocked. City pushed for the winner in the late stages. Nice skill in the tight gave Shi O’Connor a shooting chance that was saved, whilst Valter headed wide. Horley did miss a half chance in the 90th minute; a shot that went into the side netting. Then deep in stoppage time Valter put Sam Hunt into space on the left and his shot/cross from an angle took a deflection and finished in the net for a late winner.
Team: Craig Smith, Stephan Langley (Harvey Valter 79), Billy Nutbeam, Jamil Saleh, Andy Matthews, Campbell Scott, Cameron Gyeabour (Jamie Pearce 75), Tommy Brunton (Ashley Hitchinson 85), Shane Rideout (Sam Hunt 70), Shi O’Connor, Leon Dadey. Unused sub: Neil Roissetter.
Referee: Thomas Berry
Attendance – 74
