City Come Back to Earn an Away Draw

Published on: 17 Aug, 2025
Updated on: 27 Aug, 2025

Badshot Lea (1) 2 Guildford City (0) 2

By Barry Underwood

Having been two goals down in the second-half Guildford were satisfied to depart Westfield Lane with a well-deserved point.

See interview with manager Carl Taylor below…

City weren’t quite at the races in the first period. Badshot’s lively front runners gave the visitors plenty to think about defensively, although it wasn’t one way traffic. Twice early on Darnell Jon-Peter saw efforts saved by Harry White, the home goalkeeper.

Darnell Jon-Peter, had two early efforts saved. Chris Pegman

Badshot opened the scoring on nine minutes; a low cross into the box was met by Eric Kerage who fired home at the second attempt. Guildford were under pressure and minutes later Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb was put through, but his attempted lob cleared the crossbar.

To compound their frustration Ben Jordan then headed against the crossbar. Guildford still had chances. A great run from Manny Acheampong gave Sam Harper a shooting chance but time taken for his extra touch allowed his effort to be blocked.

A period of pressure saw City win two quickfire attacking free kicks: the second of which from Harper was saved by White.

City’s new forward Sam Harper. Chris Pegman

On 39 minutes City came close with their best move of the half. Sam Harper and Maddox Holloway gave Jake Brown a great shooting chance, but his mishit effort still forced a good save by White.

A City tactical change switch couldn’t prevent Badshot going two goals up within a minute of the restart. It appeared the danger had been averted by City but they switched off defensively allowing Luis Hamblin to score from an angle.

But from this point Guildford started to dominate and two minutes later Jake Brown headed home a high ball into the box.

City now looked more secure at the back, and loose balls in the middle of the park were being won. On 63 minutes the visitor’s deservedly equalised. Kai Zini went forward powerfully and offloaded to Darnell Jon-Peter on the right.

The mercurial Jon-Peter crossed low and Jake Brown turned the ball in from 12 yards. On 66 minutes Deven Reid-Solanki entered the fray from the bench and proved a handful for the home defence.

Jake Brown (on the right) scoring from 12 yards. Chris Pegman

The result was in the balance as the game fluctuated. Play was end-to-end. A looping Brown header was saved, and at the other end Mervyn Wood twice got down low to save at the expense of corners.

Late in the game Badshot pushed forward, with winger Oliver St Vincent firing copious crosses into the box. On 87 minutes City could have won the game. Reid-Solanki’s low cross was met by the excellent Manny Acheampong but White saved miraculously with his legs.

Despite the pressure City defended well and, overall, a point to both sides was deserved.

Teams: Mervyn Wood, Josh Adjei (Alexander-William Nwadike 66), Tobi Falodi, Jaiden Chang-Brown, Alex Stingelin (Frank Boamah 46). Ben Drake, Darnell Jon-Peter, Jake Brown (Sonny Cooper 85), Sam Harper (Deven Reid-Solanki 66), Manny Acheampong, Maddox Holloway (Kai Zini 54).

Referee: Daniel Harvey

Attendance – 101
Listen to Ian Newson Plested’s post-match interview with team manager Carl Taylor.