City Win After Going Down to Ten Men

Published on: 13 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 13 Mar, 2025

Guildford City (0) 1, Epsom & Ewell (0) 0

By Barry Underwood

Every so often a match comes along that will live long in the memory of City fans, and this match was one of those occasions.

It wasn’t a 90-minute thrill-a-minute classic. Indeed, for almost all of the first-half it was a routine affair. But the loss of Guildford’s goalkeeper to a red card just before the break gave City’s players the opportunity to put in a courageous and committed second-half display to claim a win against the odds.

Darnell Jon-Peter

And the goal. What a goal! And to win such a game. The Spectrum will have witnessed few goals more spectacular than that scored by the mercurial Darnell Jon-Peter.

Guildford had a lot of the ball in the early stages. Jake Brown had a shooting chance but his effort lacked power. Shortly after Benji Gambrah crossed low and Kai Zini miskicked whilst in a good position.

On 16 minutes a long throw into the box fell to Jaiden Chang-Brown on the edge of the box and his half-volley narrowly missed the far post.

Both sides spent a period testing each other without incident. But around the half-hour mark City twice came close to opening the scoring. First Darnell Jon-Peter saw a header comfortably saved, then following a clever back heel from Reid-Solanki that set Sam Sesay racing into space and his thunderous shot cannoned off the outside of the post.

City’s Freddie Robins about to challenge

On 37 minutes Epsom fashioned a good chance themselves. A low cross from the left was met by Jason Bloor whose first-time effort went narrowly wide.

Then as the game ticked into stoppage time there was a calamity moment for City keeper Jacob Terry.

Caught in two minds at the edge of his box, Terry handled the ball just outside and was thus shown a red card. It was City’s skipper Alex Stingelin who donned the gloves. The resulting free-kick zipped over the bar and the second period beckoned with Epsom seeing a real opportunity.

City’s skipper Alex Stingelin dons the gloves with help from

If City were to get something from the game, it clearly was going to take a superhuman effort. Forward forays were few and far between for much of the half as City sat in and defended heroically. Ben Drake and Jaiden Chang-Brown were outstanding at the heart of the defence.

On 59 minutes Epsom won a free kick just outside City’s box, but the powerful effort was well saved by stand-in Alex Stingelin.

Just minutes later, and against the odds, City scored. The Epsom keeper Sami Nabbad was positioned like a sweeper for much of the game. Darnell Jon-Peter took possession of the ball in the centre circle, and noticing Nabbad was well out of his goal he unleased a superb effort that cleared the keeper and went straight into the net.

Jason Bloor had a good chance for the visitors, but his effort went wide, and other long-range efforts were off-target. Alex Stingelin came and punched out a corner.

As Epsom pushed forward spaces began to open for City to attack. Sam Sesay shot just wide, and Qasim Khan was put into space but a bobble as he shot caused him to put the ball wide.

With 20 minutes remaining an Epsom shot deflected off Ben Drake and onto the crossbar.

Darnell Jon-Peter broke away on 78 minutes but this time his effort cleared the bar.

A serious-looking injury to an Epsom player caused a 10-minute delay and a lengthy period of stoppage time. Spectators were pleased to see the stretcher taken onto the pitch was not eventually needed and all joined to applaud the player as he left the pitch.

In the final moments, Anthony Nazereth blazed a shot over, and Jaiden Chang-Brown capped off his own excellent performance with a fine block.

Team: Jacob Terry, Sam Sesay, Benji Gambrah (Luca Le Page 57), Ben Drake, Alex Stingelin, Kai Zini, Deven Reid-Solanki (Qasim Khan 46), Jaiden Chang-Brown, Freddie Robins (Dominik Vakulya 69), Jake Brown (Azeez Elegushi 79), Darnell Jon-Peter. Unused sub: Salvatore Federico.

Referee: Mark Baxter

Attendance – 76

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

Next match…

Guildford City vs

Table from Non League Matters website.

Form Guide (based on last six matches)

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