City Go Bottom – They Can’t Catch a Break

Published on: 8 Sep, 2025
Updated on: 8 Sep, 2025

Balham (1) 2 Guildford City (1) 1

By Barry Underwood

Guildford’s poor run of results continued at Imperial Fields on Saturday.

When you are going through a difficult spell on the pitch you sometimes just need a lucky break. Sadly, the break City experienced came on Friday afternoon when the club’s remaining fit goalkeeper was diagnosed with a broken finger.

Unable to find a replacement in time the club captain Alex Stingelin – normally a central defender – donned the gloves.

Stand in keeper Alex Stingelin reaches for the ball in City’s goalmouth.

The home side came into the game off the back of three points gained midweek. Consequently, Balham started the game in strong fashion. Nevertheless, City did have an early opportunity when Darnell Jon-Peter’s acrobatic volley attempt was thwarted under pressure.

But Balham did look dangerous. The impressive James Anderson turned a cross over the bar, and minutes later the same playervolleyed over after exhibiting neat ball skills. Balham were working hard off the ball and despite City’s attractive passing game they weren’t making significant headway.

On 23 minutes Luca Le Page unleashed a fierce 30 yarder that James Smith saved routinely.

Then against the momentum of the game Guildford scored. Manny Acheampong did well on the left and found Darnell Jon-Peter just outside the box. Jon-Peter found a better angle and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net.

Ben Matthews rises to the ball

Alex Stingelin was certainly looking the part in goal and on 28 minutes he saved a header low down in his left side corner. On the half hour Balham won a free kick right on the edge of the box. Samuele Fagano hit the ball sweetly enough, but it cannoned wide off the outside of the post.

Stingelin got down low to save another effort, but he could do nothing about Rob White’s close-range effort just before the interval.

City’s Alex Nwadike

With reinforcements off the bench early in the second period Guildford looked an improved side. On the hour they came mighty close to edging ahead. Manny Acheampong scampered after a through ball and bearing down on goal his effort hit the keeper’s body and looped up in the box, and Darnell Jon-Peter’s volley on the stretch heartbreakingly smashed against the crossbar and was cleared.

City were pushing forward, and Kai Zini hooked a shot just wide. Moments of concern in the visitor’s defence were now rare but from a corner in the 81st minute Jake Henry headed home what proved to be the winner.

Balham’s Jack Banks did miss a shooting chance, but largely it was City trying to fashion one more chance. Jon-Peter, Jaiden Chang-Brown and Charlie Robertson all shot wide of the target late on but despite the pressure the visitors couldn’t find an equalising goal.

The result leaves Guildford City at the bottom of the Combined Counties Souther Premier League but most of the matches they have played so far are against those placed mostly in the top league positions. Nonetheless, it makes manager Carl Taylor’s pre-season ambition, for City to reach the promotion play-offs, look challenging.

Team: Alex Stingelin, Alexander-William Nwadike (Charlie Robertson 62), Tobi Falodi, Jaiden Chang-Brown, Ben Matthews (Ben Drake 62), Joe Atkin, Frank Boamah (Freddie Robins 58), Luca Le Page (Jordan Skeene 58), Manny Acheampong, Kai Zini (Salvatore Federico 77), Darnell Jon-Peter.

Referee: Mohammed Shahib Shohel

Attendance – 74

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