Defensive Errors Cost City Dear Again

Published on: 1 Apr, 2024
Updated on: 1 Apr, 2024

AFC Croydon Athletic (2)5, Guildford City (0)0

By Barry Underwood

Once again Guildford’s defensive frailties cost them dear at AFC Croydon’s Mayfield stadium.

Fine play in other parts of the pitch counts for nothing if soft goals are conceded to opponents who need no second invitation to put the ball in the net.

Indeed, City opened the match brightly and from a Jamie Hilton free-kick Anthony Ogbanufe’s shot from an acute angle hit the side netting.

Minutes later from a corner Jake Heighes header was deflected wide for another corner. On the left Leon Dadey looked lively with runs into the box causing concern in the home defence. City went behind on 18 minutes.

From a deep free-kick keeper Mac Chisholm failed to make contact with the cross and Cian McCarthy headed in at the far post. Six minutes later City found themselves suddenly two goals in arrears when Ben Cheklit scored from the penalty spot.

Predictably Croydon became more confident, but City still had moments offensively. Jamie Hilton won a 50:50 challenge giving Ben Mitchell a shooting chance from outside the box. Typifying City’s fortune Mitchell’s piledriver hit the underside of the crossbar and was cleared.

As the game approached the interval Lewis Taylor’s effort was pushed round for a corner, whilst Jamie Hilton also had a good effort blocked.

Guildford’s first-half efforts had deserved some reward and there was still a sense that a recovery was possible.

Croydon did look stronger after the break and City weren’t as effective going forward. But the home side’s third goal was a poor goal to concede. A giant clearance from Oshane Brown in the home goal was allowed to bounce on the edge of City’s box.

Croydon’s new signing Richard Pingling gained possession by the byline, and somehow was able to shoot home from the most acute of angles.

Then it became four goals on 64 minutes. Confusion in defence gave new signing Tom Collins
from Kingstonian a shooting chance which entered the net a little too easily.

For City, substitute Jack Phillips saw a hurried volley saved by Brown, before the scoring was concluded for the day by the best finish of the afternoon; Tom Collins neatly lobbing the ball home from 25 yards.

City came close in the final moments when Shane Johnson’s flick enabled Ben Mitchell a shooting chance which was well blocked for a corner, from which Leo Anthony also saw an effort blocked by a Croydon defence determined not to concede a goal.

Team: Mac Chisholm, Lewis Taylor, Callum Sullivan (Leo Anthony 59), Jake Heighes, James Glover, Niall Stillwell (Shane Johnson 59), Anthony Ogbanufe (Tolu Ajayi-Obe 59), Shiloh Ndiulor, Ben Mitchell, Jamie Hilton, Leon Dadey (Jack Phillips 57). Unused sub: Chris Adams.

Referee: Tolga Inanc

Attendance – 121

Hear Ian Plested’s post-match interview here…

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