Guildford City’s delayed arrival at Shortwood’s picturesque Meadowbank ground saw kick-off delayed for 15 minutes, but any concerns about lack of preparation were allayed by a brisk City start. Indeed in just the fourth minute Junior Kaffo had a glorious chance to open the scoring but his powerful shot hit a defender on the line and spiralled past the post for a corner. Shortly afterward Tom Penson saw a long range effort sail past the post. Gradually though the home side played their way back into the game, and twice within minutes Jake Parrott caused City problems with dangerous headers; the second of which Dammy Bada headed off the line. City didn’t take these close shaves lying down and both Dan Moody and the Dammy Bada had shots blocked at close range by home custodian Tom King. After 27 minutes City had appeals for a penalty turned away when the busy Bada appeared to have his legs taken from under him. As the game approached the interval Shortwood had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring. First Ross Langworthy forced his way through and his 20 yard shot was superbly tipped over at full stretch by Antony Hall. Moments later the ball fell in the box to Kevin Slack but he screwed his effort wide from just six yards.
Under pressure for much of the half, and struggling to make inroads, City were strangely out of sorts in the second period, and it was the home side who always looked likely to open the scoring. Indeed minutes after missing a good opportunity, Kevin Slack made amends on 55 minutes to drive left footed past Antony Hall’s outstretched fingers to Shortwood 1-0 up. After 63 minutes Slack slid the ball past Hall to put the home side two up and for a period City were on the ropes. Guildford’s best chance of the second-half came and went when Dan Moody crossed from the right, and substitute Luke Bradnick blazed the opportunity over the bar. Shortwood put the game beyond doubt on 80 minutes when Tom Haddock fired a 30 yard piledriver past a bemused Hall. James Singh scored a fourth goal in stoppage time, and in truth nobody could argue that Shortwood didn’t fully deserve their four goal victory.
Guildford City:
Antony Hall, Tom Penson, Ben Rayner, Simon Cooper, Jamie Thoroughgood, Tony Chaplin (Luke Bradnick 71), Dan Moody, Will Heavey (Bruce McPhail 75), Junior Kaffo, Joel Hughes, Dammy Bada.
Unused substitutes: Anthony Bridgeman, Michael Hall.
Cautioned: Tom Penson, Ben Rayner, Simon Cooper, Will Heavey.
Attendance – 121
Referee: M Billingham