City Knocked Out of Combination Cup – But Saturday Is Do or Die

Published on: 25 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 25 Mar, 2026

Camberley Town (1) 2 Guildford City (1) 1

By Barry Underwood

In their penultimate match of the season, Guildford City exited the Southern Combination Cup at the quarter final stage.

It wasn’t to be the visitor’s day though when they lost their goalkeeper sent off after 24 minutes and it was to be an uphill task from then on. In a fast start, City dominated the early stages but crucially they didn’t score during that golden period.

Alex McLean mishit a volley wide, and Joel Oppong twice cut into traffic when well positioned in the box. Tyrese Agbontaen saw an effort saved at the near post, and from a counter-attack George Burgess-Allen’s shot was saved low down by Max Haman.

After the initial threat the game settled into a midfield battle.

From a corner Bertie Saunders headed wide, and at the other end City’s goalie Marvin Wood was shown the red card after he handled outside his box whilst attempting to clear the ball.

Full-back Josh Adjei donned the gloves. But from the resulting free-kick Arya Rajabali thumped the ball through the wall and into the net.

For City Luca Le Page curled an effort just wide and after 37 minutes they were level. Camberley keeper Max Haman delayed his clearing kick, and Kai Zini charged the ball down, then reacted first to run the ball into the net.

Kai Zini the goalscorer. Luke Davidson

On the cusp of half-time stand-in keeper Josh Adjei saved well from Joel Onu at the expense of a corner.

The match after the break was a scrappy affair but still Guildford weren’t unduly troubled.

Kai Zini appeared to be impeded in a promising position, but no free kick was awarded.

On 55 minutes Camberley scored again. Joel Onu shot tamely from wide and somehow and inexplicably the ball found the net. The first substitute keeper was at that point replaced from the bench by a second, namely Kallum Peart.

On the hour Kai Zini swivelled in the box and his effort was blocked for a corner.

It appeared that a home defender handled the ball whilst clearing the ball, but nothing came of the Sweeney’s appeals.

Kallum Peart saved well at the feet of Shane Qoloni lively, who had been lively throughout. After that the match petered out, in driving rain, to a disappointing defeat for City.

For Sweeney supporters all attention will now switch to City’s final match on Saturday against Epsom & Ewell at the Spectrum. Three points are desperately need to keep the hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Team: Marvin Wood (Josh Adjei 24) (Kallum Peart 55), Naison O’Neill, Josh Adjei, Luca Le Page (Kaliam Safou 65) (Reece Samuels 84), Bertie Saunders, Alex McLean (Callum Hamnett 65), Tyrese Agbontaen (Ben Kennett 90), George Burgess-Allen, Isaac Brown, Kai Zini, Joel Oppong.

Referee: Sam Walker

Attendance – 36

Listen to Ian Newson Plested’s post-match interview with assistant team manager Bradley Graham…