Opening 3-0 Loss for City But Scoreline Does Not Tell the Whole Story

Published on: 28 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 4 Aug, 2025

Epsom & Ewell (0) 3, Guildford City (0) 0

By Barry Underwood

What you learn in football over the years is that an impressive pre-season in both training and results counts for nothing when the season starts in earnest.

So it was at the Leg o’ Mutton Field on Friday night (July 25). In truth there wasn’t much between the sides in this, the CCL’s opening Premier division match, with both teams having good chances on goal.

Barring a crazy seven-minute spell in the second half the match had a draw written all over it.

Deven Reid-Solanki

It was City who had the first attempt on goal when Deven Reid-Solanki’s shot from an angle was blocked. Minutes later City keeper Marvin Wood saved well from Ali Fofanan’s fierce shot.

On 10 minutes both sides again exchanged chances; Kai Zini shooting just wide, and an Epsom shot that was dragged wide of the back post.

Play went end to end and Jordan Skeene’s curling effort was blocked for a corner. Seconds later an Epsom lob cleared Wood but bounced in the box, onto the crossbar and over. It was a narrow escape for the visitors.

The rest of the half played out without incident, and it was anybody’s game. Manager Carl Taylor introduced Darnell Jon-Peter and Charlie Robertson off the bench for the second half and Guildford certainly looked livelier.

On 54 minutes Sam Harper got goalside and bearing down on goal he passed to the unmarked Darnell Jon-Peter whose first time shot curled just over the bar.

Two minutes later Harper chested down a through pass and this time his early shot went inches wide of the post.

As so often happens, City were made to pay for their wastefulness when Epsom quickly pushed the ball forward to be converted with aplomb by Luke Miller.

Three minutes later a straight ball down the middle-found Kingsley Anokue who finished clinically. Another four minutes on and it was 3-0. A low cross from the left found Ali Fofanan who converted from close range.

Mervyn Wood

The lively Sam Harper showed a good touch to race clear again but again his effort went just wide.

Debutant keeper Mervyn Wood twice saved well late on, whilst Joe Atkin had a shot blocked, and Jake Brown’s effort was saved by Epsom’s keeper Fabian Witter.

A disappointing start to the league campaign but the match was much closer than a 3-0 scoreline suggests.

Team: Mervyn Wood, Ben Matthews, Alex Rodway-Brown, Jaiden Chang-Brown (Charlie Robertson 46), Joe Atkin, Ben Drake, Deven Reid-Solanki, Maddox Holloway (Jake Brown 65), Sam Harper, Kai Zini, Jordan Skeene (Darnell Jon-Peter 46). Unused subs: Frank Boamah, Junior Da Cruz.

Referee: Tom Murray

Attendance – 143

Listen to Ian Newson Plested’s post-match interview with team manager Carl Taylor after the Godalming Town Bill Kyte Cup match. He also talks about the Epsom & Ewell match the night before, as reported above.