City Fade to Concede Home Draw

Published on: 8 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 9 Sep, 2024

Guildford City (0) 1, Spelthorne Sports (0) 1

By Barry Underwood

There was disappointment amongst the City camp post-match that their long domination of the game had failed to claim the three points they felt they had deserved.

Guildford did dominate for much of the game, but for all their possession they couldn’t convert chances into goals.

As the game went on bottom of the division Spelthorne grew in confidence, and late on with City starting to live dangerously a late equaliser inevitably came.

In the very first minute of the match Tywon Gray fired in a first time cross that didn’t find a City player. In the opening 20 minutes City were camped in Spelthorne’s half. The visitors were defending deep, and Guildford were working hard to find some space.

In the first half City were mostly dominant. Here Alex Stingelin & Ben Drake on the attack.

Manny Acheampong went down in the box under pressure but the referee wasn’t impressed.

Minutes later Acheampong gave Benji Gambrah a shooting chance but Zac Basey was out quickly to smother his effort.

City came close again on 17 minutes. A defensive header went straight up in the air and Keoindre Ellis-Vassell lifted the falling ball over Basey but inches wide of the post.

As often happens a team “under the cosh” often break away and score, and Spelly came desperately close to doing just that. A low cross into the six-yard box was blocked on the line by Nick Inwugwu who calmly ran the ball away from the goal line.

Straight to the other end and Manny Acheampong’s shot was deflected up and onto the top of the goal.

Spelthorne then lifted themselves and applied pressure leading up to the interval; Liam O’Callaghan coming close from a header from Dwayne Clarke’s cross.

For City Benji Gambrah shot over the bar and the game remained goalless at half-time.

Five minutes into the second period Guildford got the goal they had been seeking. Ben Drake was fouled by the byline and after consultation with his assistant the referee pointed to the spot.

Keoindre Ellis-Vassell stepped up and holding his nerve during a long delay he shot powerfully into a top corner.

Keoindre Ellis-Vassell celebrates his penalty goal.

Manny Acheampong continued to look dangerous running at the defence with one shot going just wide, and another being saved by Basey for a corner.

As the game reached its latter stages Spelthorne realised that they were still in the game, and increasingly they posed the City defence problems. Ben Drake shot wide from Acheampong’s cross, but it was City who had a let off when Spelly netted but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Guildford were now looking anxious and in the 90th minute Aston Wade turned in a corner for a late equaliser.

Disappointing then for City but a point gained and onto the next match.

Team: Sam Bell, Tywon Gray, Benji Gambrah (Jerry Frimpong 55), Ben Drake, Nik Krokhin, Alex Stingelin, Nick Inwugwu, Leevi Bassett (Jordan Wynter 82), Keoindre Ellis-Vassell (Elvis Kwashie 82), Manny Acheampong (Luca Le Page 82), Freddie Robins (Malachai Cole 60).

Referee: David Johnston

Attendance – 88

Listen to Ian Plested’s post-match interview with team manager Carl Taylor here:

Tomorrow see The Dragon’s exclusive interview with City’s manager.

Next match…

Guildford City vs Horley Town 

7.30pm Wednesday, September 11 at Spectrum

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