Another great performance from the squad and another four goals bringing back three points from Chalky Lane, and all despite giving the hosts a goal start and being on the wrong end of one of the worst red card decisions seen in many a long while.

The Gees lined up with Ryan O’Sullivan in goal and Nana Afful, Shiloh Ndiulor, Ollie McAleese and Jack Sherwood across the back. Captain James Mariner, Mark Soares and Deji Adeosun were in the middle of the park, with Jonny Miller wide left supporting Will May up front. Cameron Edwin, back from suspension, slotted in for the unavailable Louis Lindsay. We are blessed with a squad with cover and Rob Parrott, originally named to start after having served his suspension last week, took a place on the bench while he shakes off a knock. He was joined by Deji Alabi, Elroy Wealthyland, Conor Stillwell and James Mansfield.

It started well, despite the goalposts at the Clubhouse end tilting alarmingly away from 90 degrees and from the pitch. Maybe had they have been upright Cam’s early snap-shot might have crept in rather than over. However, with only five minutes on the clock the Gees gave away a soft looking corner on the left. The ball came over and bar changing the colour of the opposition shirts we saw a replica of the goal conceded on Saturday, something to work on in training perhaps. The team’s response was good although they struggled at times to get possession of the ball against Chessington’s incessant long ball game.

We had the first of several lengthy breaks in play when the Chessington keeper went down after sending a drop kick the length of the park and over our goal line. The keeper was carrying the ball outside the area on these kicks, but the Lino ignored our protests from the touchline and wasn’t going to leave his post on the halfway line to have a look. On 10 minutes Deji Adeosun, Will May and Jonny Miller combined well but only won a throw for their efforts, Ollie threw to Jonny who was just beaten to the ball by the Goalie. A couple of chances fell to Will May with a tough header saved and a shot into the side netting. Will was close to latching on to a Nana cross, the keeper dropped it, grabbed it at the second attempt and stayed down for more treatment. The 30 minute mark saw Chessington’s second effort on goal, a shot from outside the box going wide.

A strange booking for the home team followed, a card was shown when it appeared a player wouldn’t take a throw-in until his mate came back from looking for the ball. 44 minutes and Chessington won a corner, against the run of the play. This time it was cleared out to Jonny Miller on the left, Will headed Jonny’s ball back across the goal mouth and Cam was on hand to put away the equaliser. Plenty of time added and the Gees didn’t let up in it. Deji set up Cam who shot over the wonky bar and on 45+4 Cam adeptly controlled a throw-in, turned and set up Jonny Miller for our second goal. There was even time to repeat the move again and go close before the whistle brought the half to an end. 2-1 Godalming.

As you were for the second half and for a while it was all quiet until Mazza won the ball in the middle of the park. He got up from the challenge with the ball at his feet and, far too long after, found the game stopped with a Chessington player on the ground. Cue minor disturbances on the pitch, a restart with a Godalming drop ball, and both a Chessington yellow card and a sin binning. Shiloh delivered a great ball to Will May who was unlucky to be flagged offside. Rather than seeing substitutions made on the hour mark this game saw Godalming’s third goal. From a throw-in Ollie played a one-two with Cam, took the ball into the area and found Deji. He saw his shot pushed out by the Keeper, but Will was there to smack it back past him for 3-1. After the restart Will and Jonny Miller both came close to adding a fourth goal. On the defensive side of things Jonny took a yellow card for breaking up the play and Ryan did well to tip the tricky free kick over for a corner; he hadn’t had a lot to do. Jack Sherwood cleared an effort on the line and on 71 minutes Conor Stillwell came on for the hardworking Cam.

Then came the incident that marred the game. Will May went into a challenge on the left touchline, a yellow card perhaps but never a red. Minutes of deliberation and attempted explanation by the ref to Will, Mazza and then the bench won’t change the opinion of any of us around the incident. The shout of ‘Yes’ from one Chessington player when the card went up said all about their 100+ minutes of football. To add insult to injury, a short while after it all Conor was upended in similar fashion on the same spot; a free kick but no card shown.

Elroy Wealthyland and Deji Alabi replaced Jonny Miller and Deji Adeosun on 81 and 84 minutes respectively. The ten men as expected came under some pressure and Nana took a card protecting the line. The Gee’s were managing the game well though, breaking and keeping the ball and forcing a string of throw-ins high in the Chessington half. With 90+5 ticking by Mark Soares pounced on a clearance from the Chessington keeper some 30 yards out, took 2 paces forward and chipped the ball inch-perfectly into the back of the net for the goal of the game and 4-1. A Ross ‘Cheeky’ goal, and best wishes to him and to Luke Beale, who were both at the match. Mark Soares took his bow, and James Mansfield came on in his place. The time ticked on past 90+10 and never giving up Ollie McAleese rushed back to clear from our line after the ball took a bounce over his head. Finally, we heard that whistle which confirmed the Gees are now 13 league games unbeaten.

Missing Will is a blow but it’s a squad game and they’ll be doing the business next at Copthorne, 3 pm on Saturday.  

COYG’s