City Fail to Kick Losing Habit

Published on: 12 Nov, 2023
Updated on: 12 Nov, 2023

Guildford City (0) 1, Redhill (2) 4

By Barry Underwood

Guildford’s winless run was extended at the Spectrum with promotion chasing Redhill claiming the three points.

Two goals for the visitors in the final minutes of the first half was a crucial factor inCity’s defeat, followed five minutes after the restart by a controversial third.

To their credit the young City side battled throughout and for a period in the second half there seemed a realisticprospect of getting something from the game.

Before kick-off, to mark Armistice Day a British Legion standard bearer marches onto the pitch.

City started the match brightly and came close to scoring on five minutes. A Darnell McDonald cross wasn’t held by debutant goalkeeper Fred Leather, but the young goalkeeper recovered to make a fabulous diving save from Mike Coppinger’s shot.

Another McDonald cross found Kai Beck in the box who laid the ball to Coppinger who despite twisting and turning was unable to find a clear opening and his shot was blocked.

Redhill saw a volley go wide on 23 minutes, and gradually the visitors started to edge possession. On the half hour in a break forward Manny Acheampong’s cross just eluded Mike Coppinger, and there was little between the sides.

Then in the final moments of the half City were harshly punished. After a corner the ball was headed back across goal where an unmarked Adam Grant headed home.

Kai Beck on the scoresheet again with City’s only goal

Minutes later in stoppage time the same player repeated the exercise when a cross took a deflection giving Grant the chance to head home again. City players and supporters were stunned as they headed to their half-time refreshment.

The home side to their credit looked dangerous for a spell. Darnell McDonald saw a shot saved well, and a driving run into the box by Owen Sims saw his effort hit the side netting. But Redhill clinched their victory with 15 minutes remaining.

Adam Grant completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes when he rounded the goalkeeper, although City’s defenders and the home supporters thought the striker offside when he received the through ball. Guildford gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Kai Beck netted on 58 minutes after a scramble in the
Redhill box.

City playing Redhill – under floodlights in the second half.

Darnell McDonald on the ball watched by Mike Coppinger.

Late in the game Will May saw a shot from the edge of the box go wide, whilst City keeper Mac Chisholm saved well with his legs with a minute to go.

Hear Ian Plested’s post match interview here…

Team: Mac Chisholm, Owen Sims, Callum Sullivan (Lewis Taylor 77), Callum Wilson (Tolu Ajayi-Obe 77), James Glover, Niall Stillwell, Manny Acheampong (Ben Thompson 77), Owen Tanner, Kai Beck (Will May 77), Mike Coppinger (Louis Lindsay 77), Darnell McDonald.

Referee: Simon Graves

Attendance – 127

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