City Knocked Out of Cup Competition Despite Being the ‘Better Team’

Published on: 28 Aug, 2026
Updated on: 28 Aug, 2026

Guildford City (0) 1
Crawley Down Gatwick (1) 2

By Barry Underwood

Guildford City gave a spirited performance against Crawley Down Gatwick, at Step 5, one step above Guildford, as they exited the Peter Bentley League Cup. The match was played at The Spectrum on Wednesday evening (August 26).

The visitors looked the livelier side for the first twenty minutes, and City keeper Jacob Slyfield had to be at his best to keep the score goalless.

An early header went wide and two minutes later Slyfield had to save low down diving to his left after the defence had failed to clear the ball.

Two further long-range efforts were saved and Guildford were living dangerously. On eight minutes the ball was given away cheaply and from the resulting break Slyfield had to save well with his legs.

On 20 minutes, City had a rare foray forward that ended with Keone Pillay shooting well wide.

Three minutes later Crawley went ahead. The ball was played across the box to Alex Tidy who was in acres of space and had time to pick his spot past Jacob Slyfield.

Minutes later Crawley missed a volley from close range which could have decided the match there and then but City suddenly sparked into life with prolonged possession in the visitor’s half.

After a good build-up, Rory Cornelius couldn’t get enough power into his shot, and from the rebound the same fate befell Keone Pillay. Dan Way then saw two efforts saved by the Crawley keeper.

It wasn’t one way, though, and Jacob Slyfield saved brilliantly low down in the corner. In the last action of the half Harry Hennem’s strong run concluded with Keone Pillay firing over the bar.

Guildford continued their improved form into the second period and almost immediately they should have scored. An excellent Josh Williams run the left set up Luke Mitchell who put his effort wide of an empty goal.

Josh Williams, lively, as usual, for city.

But City did equalise on 50 minutes; Dan Way scoring from a free kick from fully 35 yards.

Josh Williams looked lively up front and his header sent Luke Mitchell into space where he was bundled over for a free kick. With 20 minutes remaining Mitchell hit the post low down from 20 metres and then saw the ball spin across goal and off for a goal kick outside the other post.

There was nothing between the sides until the 78th minute when Crawley won a penalty. There was no argument over the decision following Dan Way’s clumsy challenge.

Will Harley stepped up for the visitors and calmly slid the ball low into the corner.

Try as they might City couldn’t get an equaliser and it was the Step 5 side that advance to the next round of the cup despite manager Luke Simmonds’ claim, in his post-match interview, that they had been the better side.

Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas, Dan Way (Tyreke Martin 84), Kieron Harris (Jake Bellmaine 56), Reece Killick, Dan Rolland, Keone Pillay (Kiyanu Pillay 45), Rory Cornelius (Bilal Chraka 80), Luke Mitchell, Harry Hennem (Sandhalu Perera 80), Josh Williams.

Referee: Oliver Westgate

Attendance – 172