EDITORIAL

Godalming Town
kept up their recent
unbeaten record
against rivals
Guildford City as a
second half Darren
Wheeler goal saw the
Gs progress to the 3rd
round of the Surrey
Senior Cup in front of
a bumper Wey Court
derby-day crowd.
Since City’s reformation
in 1996 Godalming have
lost just once to their
biggest rivals, back in
2005, and some felt
a resurgent Guildford
under new, local
manager Dean Thomas
had their best shot at
ending that run against
an out-of-form Gs side.
However, the hosts
were always on top in a
tie low on chances and
did enough to get their
name in the hat for the
next round.
GODALMING TOWN 1
GUILDFORD CITY 0
Tuesday 10th November
The visitors were
without striker Matt
Anton, prolific at step 8
Godalming & Farncombe
Athletic before following
his old manager to
City in September, and
recently courted by Gs
boss Andy Hunt, but
they went close after just
4 minutes when former
Chelsea trainee Adam
Nditi bent a free kick just
wide. Johnny Gray was
playing a more advanced
role in holding midfield
as Nick Hutchings
returned to his place at
full-back, and the former
shot over before City
‘keeper Liam Beach
smothered a Wheeler
free-kick after an initial
spill.
Gray saw another effort
fizz off target before,
in the 34th minute, the
hosts created the best
opening of the half when
Louis Hutton played
a short free-kick to
Wheeler who skinned
Tom Booth before
crossing to George Frith,
and his knockdown
found Tom Willment, but
his effort rebounded
back off the post.
The tie seemed to be
lacking that bit of quality,
particularly in the final
third, with neither side
looking particularly
penetrative. However,
a moment of class from
Adam Cornell just 4
minutes after the break
presented a golden
chance for Wheeler,
and the winger wasn’t
about to waste such an
opportunity. Chris Wales
played the ball forward
and Cornell did superbly
to turn, leaving Bradley
Pegg for dead, and he
rolled the ball across
the 6-yard box where
Wheeler was on hand to
side foot home in front
of the Shed End, his
8th goal of an already
productive season for
him.
The lead should have
been doubled on the
hour mark, and this
time Cornell on the
score sheet, as Sealand
international Booth
played a back pass too
short and the striker was
onto it in a flash. His first,
placed effort hit the post
and came back to him
for a second attempt,
and he opted for power,
but the shot flew well
over Beach’s bar.
As the tie wore on the
visitors began to probe
slightly more, and former
Gs midfielder Andy
Ottley forced Richard
Ossai into his first
meaningful save of the
night with 16 minutes
to go, his 25-yard shot
well stopped by the Gs
number one. Guildford’s
golden chance to take
the tie to penalties came
in stoppage time when a
free-kick fell to substitute
Josh Everand, who did
well to create the space,
but Ossai was on hand
to thwart him from close
range.
Certainly not a classic,
but the Gs will be
pleased to progress in
a cup competition, and
make it back to back
wins at Wey Court.
Next up is a visit from
unbeaten AFC Rushden
& Diamonds on Saturday
before Andy Hunts side
visit Egham Town in the
League Cup.
Attendance: 296
Goals: Wheeler 48’
XI: Ossai; Wales,
Hutchings, Willment,
Musgrove; Frith,
Wheeler, Gray (Laidler
66’), Hutton; Cornell
(Lewington 78’), Purdy.
Not used: Edwards,
Lloyd, McGarry
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