Below Par City Revert to Losing Ways

Published on: 4 Feb, 2024
Updated on: 4 Feb, 2024

Guildford City (0) 2, Camberley Town (2) 3

By Barry Underwood

After a positive result at promotion-chasing Knaphill the previous week, there was a confidence that Guildford City’s poor run of results had come to an end, and that a positive run until the end of the season was a real possibility.

But this home defeat against mid-table Camberley saw a frustrating City side take several steps backward. Indeed City’s performance in the first period was as poor as anything witnessed at the Spectrum for a number of years.

The side looked off the pace and offensively almost non-existent with Camberley’s goalkeeper Owen Crawford a lonely figure during the first half. There was improvement after the break and City did put up some fight but the narrow scoreline at full-time didn’t reflect the visitor’s overall dominance.

GCFC Mitchell aerial

After an untidy opening, Camberley took the lead on eight minutes. A long throw into the box was only cleared to the edge of the area where Brandon Vangrove shot home via a significant deflection.

On 15 minutes MacChisholm made a great blocking save from Kingsley Anokye as the visitors dominated proceedings. On the half-hour and summing up the half, Nasim Regragui took the ball off a colleague’s toe as he was about to pull the trigger and the chance came to nothing.

On 38 minutes, Camberley had the ball in the net direct from a corner but the “goal” was ruled out for a foul. As the game approached the interval Mac Chisholm saved acrobatically from a shot on the turn.

There was still time however for a second goal. City lost possession in the corner and from a cross a headed clearance fell straight to Anokye who side-footed home.

It is said Camberley would be second in the league in all matches finished after 45 minutes. So, leading at the interval doesn’t ensure Camberley victories and when City’s Ben Mitchell went past two defenders in the box and slotted home on 50 minutes it seemed a City renaissance was on the cards.

But fatally City conceded immediately when a low cross from the right was hit home by Stan Jones.

Shortly after Kingsley Anokye shot just over the bar when well placed. On 62 minutes Jake Heighes forced Owen Crawford into a flying save but City’s chances were by now few and far between.

Mac Chisholm twice saved well at the expense of corners, and the City keeper got lucky not to concede a penalty when scrambling to regain a loose ball. City scored a second on 88 minutes; Leon Dadey showing a fine first touch to shoot home from six yards. Guildford pushed forward in stoppage time but to no avail.

Team: Mac Chisholm, Owen Sims, Callum Sullivan (Lewis Taylor 54), Jake Heighes, James Glover, Conor Stillwell (Niall Stillwell 67), Nasim Regragui (Ben Thompson 54), Jamie Hilton, Ben Mitchell, Mike Coppinger (Tolu Ajayi-Obe 75), Anthony Ogbanufe (Leon Dadey 60).

Referee: Andrew Batten

Attendance – 109

Listen to Ian Plested’s post-match interview with manager Tristan Rees here…

Next match: Guildford City vs Balham 3pm Saturday, February 10 at Spectrum

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