City Have Victory Snatched Away in Final Minute

Published on: 2 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 2 Sep, 2026

Guildford City (1) 1 Loxwood (0) 1

By Barry Underwood

City came close to gaining a maximum six points over the Holiday weekend but were thwarted by a goal at the death by a spirited Loxwood side.

The match definitely was a game of two halves. Guildford in the first period played possibly their best football of the season so far, with Sandy Perera especially impressing in the middle of the park.

The home side came close from a corner that dropped down under the bar but was somehow cleared. It was all Guildford and on 17 minutes Josh Williams fizzed a low effort just wide.

Against the run of play, and as if to prove there were two sides in the contest, Loxwood struck the post from a long-range free kick. Not deterred City went back on the attack.

Rory Cornelius’s header looped over the bar, and another Josh Williams effort was well saved by Joe Hurel in the Loxwood goal.

On 30 minutes a fine passing move gave Luke Mitchell a great shooting chance, but a fine defensive challenge blocked his effort.

Jake Gadd fired just over for the visitors but five minutes later it was City who deservedly took the lead. Dan Way crossed low from the left and the predatory Luke Mitchell was on hand to guide the ball home.

The impressive Perera set Josh Williams up for another opportunity, but his effort went just the wrong side of the post.

Guildford weren’t the same dominant force after the break and the longer the game went on the more dangerous Loxwood looked.

Guildford still had their chances with both Josh Williams and Rory Cornelius seeing shots saved well by Hurel. City’s defence started to get stretched and Jacob Slyfield saved a glancing header.

Jacob Slyfield’s safe pair of hands claim another cross. Chris Pegman

Dan Way did see a long-range free kick saved at the near post, and on 73 minutes City had a strong appeal for a penalty turned away when Seb Villaneuva went down in the box following a challenge from behind.

Guildford, it seemed, had lost control of the midfield and Loxwood pushed forward in search of an equaliser. With 13 minutes remaining Lewis Huggins cut in from the right but shot wide.

Late on, a Loxwood volley was brilliantly saved by Slyfield at close range and it seemed City had done enough to claim the points. But in the fourth minute of stoppage time Hurel sent another booming kick forward.

Clearing the defenders Lewis Huggins latched onto the ball and lashed a spectacular shot from 30 yards over the diving Slyfield. Just seconds later the final whistle blew with a point a piece.

Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas, Dan Way, Rory Cornelius (Wayne Grigg 76), Reece Killick, Dan Rolland, Sandhalu Perera (Sebastian Villanueva 57 (Hardy Barrie 83)), Cameron Honarvar, Luke Mitchell (Luke Simmonds 87), Harry Hennem (Harry Brine 71), Josh Williams.

Referee: Tom Webb

Attendance – 209