Guildford City FC deservedly got their season up and running with an excellent performance and result at local rivals Farnham Town on Saturday afternoon. In front of a large Sweeney following that comprised more than 50% of the total attendance at the West Street ground, City dominated proceedings throughout the game. But for a stand-out performance by young Kallum Lunn in the home goal, the score line would have been much higher in Guildford’s favour.
City should have opened the scoring after just three minutes when Antony Hall’s quick clearance found Sam Spencer who shot wide when in a good position in front of goal. Similarly, a fine passing move involving Khari Oriogun and Anthony Baker gave Spencer a great chance to open his account for the season, but his attempted volley spiralled harmlessly wide. Guildford were playing some scintillating football and they came close to opening the scoring after 17 minutes when Ben Rayner’s cross found Oriogun in the box, who was then bundled over in the act of shooting. The ball did, however, fall to City’s Anthony Baker whose fiercely hit effort was then cleared off the line at full stretch. City did eventually take the lead on 24 minutes when an almost identical incident saw Baker brought down as he went past the last defender, leaving Sam Spencer to step up and slot home from the spot (pictured below). Looking to take advantage of their possession City were denied three times by Lunn in the final moments of the first half; Sam Spencer, Bruce McPhail and Jack Guilford all being denied by flying saves.
HALF TIME: Farnham Town 0 – Guildford City 1 (Spencer)
Guildford opened the second half in the same vein and Khari Oriogun’s (pictured at top) threatening run down the left saw his final shot saved low down by Lunn. City almost made a further breakthrough on 56 minutes when Anthony Baker’s cross found Oriogun in the box. At the second attempt his effort was blocked by a lunging leg and Bruce McPhail’s thunderbolt effort from the rebound once again found Lunn saving at full stretch. On the hour mark, City visibly took their foot off the pedal and Farnham had more possession of the ball, but the defence superbly marshalled by Liam Harwood and Ray Guilford kept the hosts at bay and limited the opposition to long range efforts.
Just as City started to wilt, Liam Talbot’s arrival from the bench breathed fresh life and energy into the side and in the final stages it was City looking to add to their goal tally once more. With five minutes remaining, fellow substitute Tyler Chambers did well on the edge of the box and his shot was heading for the top corner until Lunn got across to make yet another top class save. There was just time at the end for Elvis Defreitas, who had enjoyed an excellent match, to gallop clear with the ball. Advancing on goal, Elvis suddenly remembered that he hadn’t scored for City in 156 appearances and he chose to pass and the chance was gone. A single goal victory then and that from the penalty spot, but this was a very impressive and encouraging performance, gaining City their first win of the season.
Team: Antony Hall, Elvis Defreitas, Tom Penson, Liam Harwood, Ray Guilford, Ben Rayner, Anthony Baker (Lamin Bah 82), Jack Guilford, Sam Spencer (Tyler Chambers 72), Khari Oriogun, Bruce McPhail (Liam Talbot 72). Unused subs: David Unwin, Nuno Pereira.
Yellow cards: Sam Spencer, Jack Guilford.
Referee: Zack Ellis
Attendance: 48
Barry Underwood