Now City Beat Promotion-chasing Knaphill

Published on: 1 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 1 Mar, 2026

Guildford City (1) 2 Knaphill (1) 1

By Barry Underwood

While there is still fight there is hope. Guildford City’s mission impossible to avoid relegation continued when they took three points from the derby fixture against Knaphill who, in second position in the division at 3pm on Saturday, saw their promotion hopes dented.

This was probably City’s best performance of the season, and you can’t help but wonder why they are in such a position at the foot of the table. On current form they would by eighth in the division.And they have narrowed the gap to four points from the team currently just above the relegation line (see table below) but other relegation battlers have games in hand.

It was the visitors who had the first sight of goal on just three minutes but a tremendous covering tackle by Callum Hope averted the danger.

Joel Oppong

City’s wide players Tyrese Agbontaen and Josh Oppong looked dangerous throughout, and it was Oppong who had the first shot on goal forcing Harvey Keogh to save low down.

An enterprising free-kick routine gave Knaphill a shooting chance, but the effort was lifted wide. Nonetheless, the Knapper’s went ahead on 23 minutes when Tom Harland-Goddard rose to head home from a corner.

But Guildford were on level terms just five minutes later.

A free kick into the box was headed down by Sam Sesay and Ben Drake fired home from 10 yards. Then, almost immediately, City hit the post through Agbontaen.

But Knaphill also had chances. Harland-Goddard and Murdoch both saw efforts go wide of the target.

Within minutes of the restart a great passing move put Kai Zini through, but a superb cover tackle saved the day for the visitors at the expense of a corner.

Following a set-piece Bertie Saunders dragged a shot wide, but shortly after from a deep free-kick Sam Sesay’s glanced header was saved well by Keogh low down in the corner.

For a spell play became fractious culminating in Jack Carrod going to the sin bin. Ben Drake was a tower of strength for Guildford with some superb tackles at the heart of defence.

Ben Drake

In the 83rd minute City scored what proved to be the winner. A great run on the left by Kai Zini gave Abdullah Selloum a chance in the box and his delicately placed effort just evaded a covering defender.

For the second match in succession, we endured 10 minutes of stoppage time and lengthy extra time with regular supporters resigning themselves, these days, to a 5pm finish.

Sam Sesay just missed a headed chance, and six minutes into stoppage Keogh saved Abdullah Selloum’s shot but then made a brilliant stop from Ben Matthew’s follow-up header.

Team: George Hyde, Naison O’Neill, Callum Hope, Ben Drake, Bertie Saunders, Sam Sesay, Tyrese Agbontaen (Ben Matthews 79), Luca Le Page (Alexander-William Nwadike 65), Alex McLean (Abdullah Selloum 65), Kai Zini, Joel Oppong (Joe Atkin 86).

Referee: Rick Ansher

Attendance – 110

Listen to Ian Newson Plested’s post-match interview with assistant team manager Bradley Graham…

Next match away vs Sheerwater – 3pm on Saturday, March 7.

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