City Progress to Semi-Final of Southern Combination Cup

Published on: 20 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 20 Feb, 2025

Cobham (2) 2 Guildford City (2) 2
Guildford won 5-4 on penalties.

By Barry Underwood

What a cracker of a match this Southern Combination cup-tie proved to be. Played end to end throughout, no neutral would have left the Leg ‘O Mutton Field saying they hadn’t been entertained.

Play-off-bound Cobham showed their confidence early with a fast-moving passing game. But this City side is made of sterner stuff these days.

Early on Sam Sesay fired goalward from 25 yards forcing Cobham keeper Rourke Pickford into a full-length save.

A minute later City opened the scoring. Pickford mistimed his punched clearance from a corner and Sam Sesay was able to head home from close range.

Deven Reid-Solanki scorer of City’s second goal

Reece Robins and Deven Reid-Solanki looked dangerous on the flanks and on 13 minutes City doubled their lead. Reece Robins and Jake Brown set up Deven Reid-Solanki at the back post where he converted with aplomb. 2-0.

Guildford were playing some great football. After a defensive error from Cobham Reid-Solanki’s volley looped up and over the bar.

The home side then had a great opportunity themselves: a low cross from the left being turned wide at the back post.

On 20 minutes Reid-Solanki found space on the edge of the box and fired a piledriver just wide.

At the other end, City keeper Jacob Terry almost conceded a goal when he lost possession with the ball at his feet, but thankfully luck was on City’s side.

On 26 minutes Ben Drake slid a ball through to Sam Sesay who shot just over the bar.

Ten minutes later Cobham scored. City lost possession in the middle of the park. The ball went forward quickly and from a low cross Derek Hayford converted.

Just four minutes later it was all square. A Patrick Murray cross from the right was tucked home once more by Hayford. Cobham were rampant leading up to the half-time whistle and only a great save by Jacob Terry with his legs ensured City went in level.

Parity was restored after the break with enterprising play from both sides. It wasn’t until the hour mark that either goal was seriously threatened.

Jacob Terry made a diving save, followed a moment later with another similar save. Cobham felt they had a strong shout for a penalty which was waved away, and on 68 minutes the home side shot just wide.

But credit to Guildford who responded well, and it was the visitors who looked more likely to score late in the game. A Reece Robins piledriver looked all the world as if it was going in the top corner but it whistled just wide.

Substitute Qasim Khan saw two attempts blocked, and another effort charged down. On 86 minutes City almost wrapped up the game. An in-swinging corner was heading for the net until City’s Alex Stingelin in attempting to head the ball over the line managed to keep the ball out of the net!

As the minutes ticked down Reece Robins shot just over the bar, and on the break Manny Acheampong’s low shot was blocked.

With the games last action Cobham won a free kick just outside the box, but it came to nothing, and the result of the match depended upon a penalty shoot-out.

There were very nearly 10 perfect penalties taken. Alex Stingelin, Joe Atkin, Dominik Vakulya, Qasim Khan and Reece Robins all emphatically scored for City. One Cobham penalty struck the post and so it was Guildford City who advanced to the semi-final stage of the cup.

Team: Jacob Terry, Sam Sesay, Ben Gambrah, Ben Drake (Kai Zini 46), Alex Stingelin, Joe Atkin, Deven Reid-Solanki (Freddie Robins 84), Jaiden Chang-Brown (Dominik Vakulya 90), Jake Brown (Qasim Khan 65), Reece Robins, Alex Rodway-Brown (Manny Acheampong 65).

Referee: Ray Hetherington

Next match…

Guildford City vs Sandhurst Town 3pm Saturday, February 22 at Spectrum.

Table from Non League Matters website.

League form Guide (based on last six matches)

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