City Continue Unbeaten League Start

Published on: 30 Aug, 2026
Updated on: 30 Aug, 2026

Guildford City (1) 4 Oakwood (0) 0

By Barry Underwood

Guildford City rose to second place in the early season league table by seeing off the challenge from Crawley-based Oakwood.

The final scoreline was slightly flattering as the first half was probably shaded by the Sussex based side who weren’t helped by the dismissal, on the cusp of half-time, of their main goal threat Jacob Todman, apparently for something he said to the referee.

The second half though belonged to the home side who played some attractive football.

In the first half, Guildford went ahead after just three minutes. Josh Williams broke free on the left and his perfectly judged cross was converted by Sandhalu Perera.

Sandy Perera’s accurate shot to the far post gave City their first goal.

But Oakwood were enjoying good possession. An on-target overhead kick in the box was comfortably held by City’s reliable keeper Jacob Slyfield. Shortly after a fierce shot from the edge of the box by Finley McLeod went wide, and Slyfield made a tremendous save from Todman.

City’s keeper, formerly a Merrow player, is proving to be a star turn.

City were under some pressure, and Slyfield again had to save from a close-range header.

The home side came more into the game around the half hour mark. A fine move led to Sandy Perera having a shooting chance that the keeper saved comfortably. Dan Way saw a free-kick go just wide of the post, and the skipper Luke Mitchell had a free-kick that the keeper parried.

Late on Oakwood’s McLeod’s close-range effort at the back post was somehow blocked by Jacob Slyfield who came from nowhere to save. Perhaps the games defining moment occurred deep in a long period of stoppage time.

Oakwood saw a penalty appeal waved away and Jacob Todman offered some sage advice to the referee who was not appreciative and showed the Oakwood forward a straight red card.

Guildford enjoyed more of the ball in the early stages of the second half without creating in front of goal. But that changed on the hour when Josh Williams shrugged off a defender to shoot home from the right-hand side of the box.

Josh Williams was on the score sheet again, this time with City’s second goal.

Minutes later Kiyanu Pillay’s run down the left gave Harry Hennem a shooting chance on the edge of the box but his curling effort went over the bar. On 70 minutes City scored their third.

An excellent cross from Dan Way found Kiyanu Pillay in the box, and his effort on goal deflected off a defender and gave Luke Mitchell a routine header in front of goal. Three minutes later Tyreke Martin’s run into the box was halted by a crude challenge, and up stepped Harry Hennem to net City’s fourth.

Harry Nicholas is proving to be a right back with attacking instincts.

In the dying moments of the game Riley Morgan hit the post for the visitors but it would only have been a consolation had it gone in.

Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas, Dan Way, Jake Bellmaine (Cameron Honarvar 51), Reece Killick, Dan Rolland, Sandhalu Perera (Tyreke Martin 62), Harry Hennem, Josh Williams, Luke Mitchell (Wayne Grigg 78), Kiyanu Pillay (Hardy Barrie 75). Unused sub: Luke Simmonds.

Referee: Richard Pringle

Attendance – 119