Westfield (1) 2, Guildford City (0) 1
by Barry Underwood
Both sides rested players for this first round Southern Combination Cup clash between two old rivals. With Westfield playing in the Isthmian League matches between the two sides don’t come round too often these days. There was little to choose between the sides in the first period. Westfield may have shaded the territorial battle but City certainly looked lively on the break. Early on Enow Ojong forced a fine save from Sonny Wheeler when he unleashed a curling effort from the right edge of the box. City’s stand-in keeper Craig Smith twice saved well early on but to emphasis the end-to-end nature of the game Scott Costello headed wide from a good position. On the half hour a terrific cross from the right saw Westfield shoot over from close range, whilst for City Costello broke and set up a shooting chance for Olly Edwardes. The home side took the lead on 40 minutes when Darnell Goather-Braithwaite drilled home from the edge of the box. Just before the half-time whistle Enow Ojong rose high in the box but his header glanced wide of the post.
The visitors were pinned back more in the second half and after several opportunities it was no surprise when Jacob Breckon made it two for Westfield after 62 minutes. With two minutes remaining Guildford got on the scoresheet to ensure a nervy finish for the home side. A deep free kick into the Westfield box was misjudged by Wheeler, and substitute Neizan Fernandez was on hand to convert from close range for his first goal in senior football. In the final moments the match finished with a sour taste for City fans after Enow Ojong was booked for entering the field of play without permission, and worse still Lloyd Connelly was shown a red card for over vigorously making his views on the subject known to the referee.
Team: Craig Smith, Stephan Langley, Shane Cheeseman, Oliver Creed, Michael Leech (Lloyd Connelly 56), Jamie Pearce (Neil Roissetter 80), Olly Edwardes, Jamil Saleh (Zeid Hannachi 62), Enow Ojong, Scott Costello (Dejarhn Grant 50), Harvey Valter (Neizan Fernandez 56).
Referee: Tom Simmons
