Godalming Town 0 (0) v (0) 0 Oakwood

I won’t go on about statistics and the like again or else I may as well just copy and paste my last report. What needs to be said about Saturday is that with a third of the season now gone a 7th draw out of our 13 games saw the Gees slip into the bottom half of the table for the first time. The opposition managed to force only the one save from our keeper and much as the faithful may have got excited with a stack of chances created in front of the Oakwood goal, they all came to nought.

Ryan O’Sullivan took his place in goal and in front of him Nana Afful was again at right back with Jack Sherwood on the left. Ollie McAleese sat this one out, serving our first suspension of the season. A number of the lads aren’t far behind, expect that to play a part in team selection in the next few games. Central defence was manned by Shi Ndiulor and Rob Parrott. James Mariner with the Captain’s armband was in front of them with Matt Cox moved forward into right midfield. Jonny Miller who we have been used to seeing with Matt on the right moved to wide left. Which left Cam Edwin, Elroy Wealthyland and Conor Stillwell in the middle. The bench had room enough for Athan Smith-Joseph, James Mansfield, Darren Xavier, Charlie Welch and Deji Alabi.

Some consternation minutes before the kick off when a search party was sent out to find enough match balls and a bicycle pump, panic averted and we kicked off as near to time as we ever seem to do these days. Immediately a Gees corner was won, conceded by the Oakwood keeper in saving a Cam Edwin effort sent goal wards from a Jonny Miller cross. Cam had another effort rebound off of a defender after a combination of Matt Cox and Elroy set the chance up. Cam returned the favour to Matt but his effort was palmed to safety. Nana played in Matt down the line and his clever back heel found Cam but to no avail. Unfortunately on the next foray forward Matt, not our tallest player, was the only one in the box as Jonny’s cross came over. James Mansfield was spotted having been sent to find one of those precious match balls in the black hole of the former golf course, I don’t think he heard the wags on the Main Stand side geeing him on and he’s too young to remember ‘right a bit, left a bit’ and ‘The Golden Shot’ on TV anyway.

30 minutes in and having won a free kick Jonny Miller took it, only for it to end up on the roof of the net. After a decent build up Matt was given a ball which was a fraction tight for him to turn on to and he could only shoot wide. A long drop kick from Ryan was cleared directly in the area for Godalming’s 5th corner of the half, 6th and 7th were to follow before the half time whistle, but when it came the score remained 0-0.

As you were for the 2nd half. The Oakwood keeper was called on again early to pluck a Jonny Miller cross from the heads of 2 incoming forwards. 51 minutes and Mazza got his head on an Elroy corner only for it to hit Nana and go for a goal kick. Cam and Elroy set up Matt but corner No.8 or was it 9? was the outcome. Rob had the keeper take the ball off of his head as the corner came across. 62 minutes and Deji replaced Nana, it appeared the Gees were going 3 at the back and Deji proceeded to win another corner, Shiloh’s header at the far post from the corner became the closest attempt yet to scoring. 66 minutes and Mazza gave way to Athan, Cam taking the Captain’s armband, and seconds later the keeper beat Cam to a cross from Deji. Shiloh broke down the left, appeared to slip near the goal line but recovered to deliver a cross narrowly wide of Rob’s head.

With 15 minutes remaining what was to be the final substitution of the day saw James Mansfield replace Elroy. James took the next corner and on the 2nd attempt the Oakwood keeper clung on to the ball going up between the heads of Rob and Cam. A soft booking for Shi saw him join Rob, Matt and Conor and take the 4th yellow cards for the Gees. From that Oakwood free kick Sully, a spectator in the game so far, made his first but vital contribution tipping the kick over the crossbar. A rake of Gees chances and half chances filled the last 10 minutes the most notable of which was from Deji, clipping the bar from the edge of the area. Unfortunately once again the Gees were unable to score in the 90 minutes.

The Billingshurst away Cup game on Tuesday is now off which means the next game is on Sunday, 2.30 at East Preston. Gees on a Sunday! It’s what they do in the Premier League? Apparently it’s all to do with Non League Day. Why not forsake your Sunday lunch and wear your ground hopping anorak with pride.

COYG’s