City Fight Back for a Draw

Published on: 25 Aug, 2026
Updated on: 26 Aug, 2026

Guildford City (0) 1 Westfield (1) 1

By Barry Underwood

It was the first home game of the season for the completely new look Guildford City.

A good-sized crowd had assembled and following the big win in midweek there was an air of expectation present.

Duly, City started brightly. Luke Mitchell flicked a header wide, and having been similarly successful midweek Harry Hennem attempted a long-range effort from halfway, on this occasion unsuccessfully.

Ten minutes in and Hennem came close to latching onto a nice pass from Dan Way, but Westfield keeper Ford Robertshaw just got a hand to the ball. A nice flicked pass from Josh Williams put Luke Mitchell into space but under pressure from a defender his effort lacked power.

Spectators, for the first time, were allowed to stand pitch side to get a closer view.

As the game developed the visitors came strongly into the game helped at times by lackadaisical City defending. On 22 minutes a mistake led to Westfield striking the foot of the post, and suddenly Guildford were put on the back foot.

Westfield saw a 30-yard effort go just wide, and minutes later striker Dan Tewksbury scored an excellent goal, beating three players before drilling low into the net. In the dying moments of the half Guildford had a peep of goal when Dan Way’s free kick deflected off the wall and went just wide.

The second period was a cagey affair. City were working hard but were struggling to make in-roads. Westfield to their credit looked the livelier side and continually looked dangerous on the counterattack.

Rory Cornelius, one of the new look Guildford City team. Paul Burgman

For Guildford, early on Cameron Honarvar’s effort was well saved by Robertshaw at the expense of a corner. Westfield came close on 51 minutes.

Jacob Slyfield did well to save with his legs but in a second phase a close-range effort just went over the bar, off a defender. On the hour Westfield’s lively Tewksbury saw a shot on the turn just clear the crossbar.

A minute later the ball was given away cheaply, and the visitors crashed an
effort against the crossbar.

Then City broke through and scored on 78 minutes and, as so often, the tide of the game turned completely. The goal came from Kieron Harris’s dinked pass which Josh Williams lifted over the keeper and into the net.

Josh Williams, here struggling to break free, looks to be one of City’s star turns. He scored on 78 minutes to bring the scores level. Paul Burgman

Minutes later a free kick into the box gave Luke Mitchell a shooting chance but Robertshaw made a flying save. Then, all of a sudden Josh Williams looked unstoppable and his great run and cross from the left gave Luke Mitchell a golden chance but sadly his effort went over the bar.

Deep in stoppage Dan Way’s free kick parried off the wall but the ball was cleared and the final whistle brought to an end the afternoon’s entertainment.

The Spectrum pitch has really suffered in the drought.

Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas (Bilal Chraka 72), Dan Way, Cameron Honarvar (Jake Bellmaine 56), Reece Killick, Dan Rolland, Sandhalu Perera (Tyreke Martin 772), Rory Cornelius (Kieron Harris 56), Luke Mitchell, Harry Hennem, Josh Williams. Unused sub: Hardy Barrie.

Referee: Garrick Henty

Attendance – 165