Spelthorne Sports (2) 4, Guildford City (0) 0
by Barry Underwood
Championship chasing Spelthorne Sports comfortably won this encounter against a Guildford City side clearly lacking in confidence. The City players perhaps need to remember that their side were good enough to win at Ascot and Sutton Common earlier in the season, and good players don’t become bad players overnight. City actually opened the match brightly and there was little between the sides in the opening stages. Spelthorne edged ahead on 15 minutes. A corner was played short, and from the resulting cross to the back post a header went in off of a defender, although Joe Dyett claimed the goal. Guildford tried to settle, and a Marlon Pinder corner was met on the half-volley by Nemo Adams, but the effort flashed wide. On 25 minutes Spelthorne went two up. City seemed to take an age to clear the ball, and finally Sam Rees was on hand to head home from close range. Just before the interval Luke Beale headed a goal bound effort clear and at the interval City were chastened but not out of the game.
Hopes of a recovery quickly disappeared as two minutes after the restart Sam Rees bundled the ball home from close range. Guildford players were united in their unhappiness, feeling that there had been a misdemeanour before the ball entered the net. Now three goals down it was a matter of damage limitation. As in midweek there was no doubting the effort, but again City were barely an attacking threat. Marlon Pinder did force Henry Poole into a comfortable diving save with an early shot on the turn. Cyril Ocansey and Benga Ogunseye both reached the by-line and crossed but on both occasions the opening came to nothing. With five minutes remaining Spelthorne rounded the afternoon off with a fourth, after the ball was lost cheaply in midfield giving Lewis Flatman the chance to shoot home from 25 yards. The return of missing midfield trio Dormer, Ridgley and Woodhouse is much anticipated, and all three players will likely play a key part in steadying Guildford’s ship.
Team: Devon Gordon Sean Mason, Josh Burrowes, Josh Everard, Nemo Adams, Luke Beale, Kieran Williams, Alfie Huckle, Benga Ogunseye, Marlon Pinder, Cyril Ocansey. Unused subs: Josh Ogunseye, Olalekan Osideko.
Referee: Ross Murphy
