City’s Skeleton Squad Hold Out for Away Victory, Despite Two Red Cards

Published on: 25 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 25 Oct, 2026

Dial Square (0) 0, Guildford City (0) 1

By Barry Underwood

Down to their last 14 fit players Guildford City produced a superb 90-minute performance to take the points.

Rain fell throughout and with a strong wind blowing down the length of the pitch conditions weren’t easy.

An experienced Dial squad, also on 20 points at kick-off, with Step 4 striker Jack Mazzone leading the line, opened brightly but throughout Guildford defended like lions.

City looked to attack on the counter and on 13 minutes they came close when Luke Simmonds saw the Dial keeper off his line and a 35-yard lobbed effort struck the crossbar.

Minutes later Luke Mitchell received the ball in the box, but his effort was blocked at full stretch. In a moment of danger in the City goalmouth Harry Nicholas made a goal saving tackle when Jacob Slyfield was unable to hold a curling cross.

Dan Roach scorer of Guildford’s goal

The home side twice came close at the near post, and on 39 minutes free-kick specialist Jimmy Norman stepped forward but his effort went wide. Late in the half Luke Mitchell headed a corner into the side netting, whilst Dial hit the crossbar and in the resulting melee an effort was blocked on the line, followed by City’s keeper making a superb blocking save at close range.

City were just as determined after the break, and they were improved in possession of the ball. The versatile Jake Bellmaine had moved into central defence alongside Andrew Hewitt where both players performed excellently.

On 53 minutes the deadlock was broken. Harry Hennem beat the offside line, and his square pass was converted by Dan Roach.

Josh Williams, as ever, looked dangerous with the ball at his feet and he provided a good outlet for his hardworking defence. Late in the game a Dial free-kick to the back post was volleyed wide.

Andrew Hewitt

But City now had two wide men – Ronnie Lee and Brooklyn Hyseni – who posed their own threat. From Hennem’s through ball Ronnie Lee raced through, and his low effort was inches wide.

As the game went into stoppage time, City went down to 10 men. A very poor challenge on Jake Bellmaine escaped the referee’s attention and Bellmaine felt it necessary to take things into his own hands. Sadly for City, this meant a red card.

Then in an attacking move Luke Mitchell was shown an unfortunate second yellow card and followed Bellmaine off the field. Guildford’s nine men heroically held out for the remaining five minutes to claim local bragging rights.

Team: Jacob Slyfield, Harry Nicholas, Dan Rolland, Jake Bellmaine, Luke Simmonds (Brooklyn Hyseni 45), Andrew Hewitt, Harry Hennem (Tyreke Martin 90), Rory Cornelius, Dan Roach (Ronnie Lee 54), Luke Mitchell, Josh Williams.

Referee: Garrick Henty

Andrew Hewitt – Guildford man of the match

Listen to Ian Newson Plested’s post-match interview with City’s goalkeeper Jacob Slyfield…