Honours Even at City After Two Extra Time Goals

Published on: 22 Feb, 2024
Updated on: 22 Feb, 2024

Guildford City (0) 1, Spelthorne Sports (0) 1

By Barry Underwood

It wasn’t pretty but both Guildford and Spelthorne committed everything in a tough encounter on a heavy playing surface.

Amazingly after 90 minutes of attrition, the match concluded with two stoppage-time goals. It was City who had the first sight of goal on six minutes.

From a corner the ball was deflected on but James Glover’s close-range header glanced wide of the post. Guildford might have scored soon after when Tolu Ajayi-Obe headed a free-kick into Ben Mitchell’s path, but a last-ditch tackle prevented a goalscoring shot.

Spelthorne launched a succession of long throws into the City’s box. But is was a flowing move on the right that caused Mac Chisholm to save acrobatically.

The home side should have gone ahead on 23 minutes when they won a questionable penalty. It looked as if Ben Mitchell had made contact himself on a Spelly defender, but the referee saw it differently and pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Shane Johnson whose effort was too close to the goalkeeper who saved comfortably. A minute later man of the match Jamie Hilton drove a powerful shot over the bar, but the rest of the half petered out into a midfield battle.

Guildford enjoyed more possession in the second period but couldn’t fashion clear attacking chances.

On the hour Ben Mitchell did well on the right but his final pass into the box was intercepted. As the half-developed “Spelly” began to cause problems and on the hour, Mac Chisholm saved smartly when Leon Iluobe cut in and fired a low shot towards goal.

Soon after Spelthorne’s Bob Honey saved well low down from an Owen Sims rasper from 20 yards. Both sides were tiring in the heavy conditions as space started to open up in the middle of the park.

On 79 minutes Chisholm saved acrobatically from an overhead kick following a corner, and minutes later he saved again, crucially, after Jake Heighes had lost his footing.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time Chisholm pushed away a corner. Then, a shot from the edge of the box was blocked but from the rebound the ball brilliantly found the top corner from 20 yards.

Spelly’s players were jubilant at snatching a late winner. But no! City had other ideas and from a corner at the other end Jake Heighes rose highest at the back post to head home a last-gasp equaliser.

Team: Mac Chisholm, Lewis Taylor (Manny Acheampong 88), Jake Heighes, Tolu Ajayi-Obe, James Glover, Owen Sims, Jack Phillips (Anthony Ogbanufe 62), James Whiting (Conor Stillwell 56), Ben Mitchell, Jamie Hilton, Shane Johnson (Ben Thompson 70). Unused sub: Callum Sullivan.

Referee: Jamaal Horne

Attendance – 79

Listen to Ian Plested’s post-match interview with City manager Tristan Rees here…

Next match away: Jersey Bulls vs Guildford City, 1500 March 2

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