Billingshurst 1 (1) v (0) 2 Godalming Town
Away for the second Saturday in a row, this week with a trip to Billingshurst. You will recall we’ve already played there this season, losing out on penalties in the Division 1 Cup. That was the match that saw Rob Parrott play all 90 minutes in goal when Ryan O’Sullivan was injured in the warm-up. Ryan started in his usual place for this one and Jack Sherwood started in place of Malik Shittu in defence, alongside Nana Afful, Rob Parrott and Ollie McAleese. Captain James Mariner was there again in front of them, ably supported by Mark Soares, Conor Stillwell, Cameron Edwin, Jonny Miller and Will May. Waiting in the wings were Elroy Wealthyland, Deji Alabi, Shiloh Ndiulor, Deji Adeosun and James Mansfield.
Off we went, and a ball from a free kick for a foul on Cam was chased down by Will May to win the Gees an early corner. Mark Soares took it and saw his kick hit the Billingshurst crossbar. At the other end Ryan pulled off a superb save as Billingshurst broke through the Godalming lines, leaving our keeper as the last line of defence. The Gees’ second corner saw Ollie McAleese’s header go over the bar. Aside from those chances it was a pedestrian start until, with 17 minutes on the clock, Mazza played a long ball forward that caught the Billingshurst keeper seemingly in two minds. With the keeper marginally, but no doubt, out of his area, and with Will advancing on him, he caught the ball after it had bounced in front of him, preventing it going over his head. After consultation with his linesman the referee produced a red card, presumably deciding the catch had prevented a goal. Billingshurst then down to 10 men, as their No.2 took over in goal. The free kick given for the offence was deflected for a corner and Mazza got to it first, only to see his header come off the cross bar.
Losing the opposition keeper so early placed the rest of this game somewhere between a ‘Cakewalk’ and a ‘Banana Skin’ for Godalming and Billinghurst showed they weren’t going to cave-in as they took the loose ball from that corner straight up the other end where Nana Afful was on hand to break the move up. Jack Sherwood tried his hand from an unfeasibly long distance and shot wide, but just afterward first Ryan, and then Ollie, had to be alert as Billingshurst came forward again. Conor Stillwell hit a shot over after a good build up between Jack, Will and Jonny but then, on 28 minutes, Billingshurst broke through again and left Ryan with no chance, slotting the ball past him for 1-0. The game was looking a tad too ‘Banana Skin’ for comfort suddenly. Cam won a corner, overruled for a goal kick and Ollie tried his shooting boots from just beyond the halfway line with an effort the No.2/No.1 picked up easily.
We did see a miskick from the stand-in but he managed to gather the ball before Mark and Will could pounce on it. He then dropped but smothered a deep cross from Jack Sherwood. Again, it was Ryan O’Sullivan who called into action next conceding a corner but saving another Billinghurst effort. Cam got into the box and had a penalty appeal turned down, probably correctly. With halftime looming Jonny Miller turned on a ball played to him into the area by Jack Sherwood and shot wide. Unfortunately, Jonny went down injured after that effort and signaled that he was unable to continue, Deji Alabi coming on in his place. Deji was straight into the action. After picking up a ball from Jack he started its progress across the pitch via Mazza and Nana. Deji was back in on the end of Nana’s cross and, as his shot took a slight deflection from a defender, the keeper got his fingers to it to prevent the equalizer. So endeth the First Half.
No substitutions for the restart. Mark Soares started the action, delivering a dangerous cross that was headed clear. Cam received a throw-in, turned and hit a shot narrowly wide. Mark fed Nana on the right who won a corner from which Rob Parrott headed narrowly over. 51st minute and it was Will May who powered in the equalizer. Picking up a ball around 35 yards out, he gave the keeper no chance, hitting it high into the net. 1-1. We have scored some spectacular goals this season. Billingshurst made a double substitution a few minutes later and Rob was at his best to stub out their first attack of the half. Jack Sherwood sent Deji to the bye line only to see the keeper deal competently with the cross. Down our right flank Conor played in Mark Soares who played the ball back to Cam, he shot from a tight angle only to see it rebound off the post. Ollie McAleese latched on to a corner on the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected out for a second corner. A Billingshurst hand palmed the ball in the box but a foul against him was the decision. 72 minutes saw the second Gees substitution as Shiloh Ndiulor replaced Nana. Rob put a ball across to Mark, his shot was too close to the keeper and the rebound effort hit a defender. Then followed a small ‘melee’ in which it turns out Shiloh, for some reason, received a yellow card. The Sub-keeper starred again to keep out a free kick after Will was brought down.
Deji Adeosun came on for Mazza on 79 minutes and five minutes later James Mansfield replaced Cam Edwin, late substitutions? Too late? At the other end a carelessly conceded free kick gave the home side their first attempt directly on goal in the half, but it was struck high over the bar. Deji Alabi appeared to be in on goal, but the advantage wasn’t played as it all came back to the halfway line for a Godalming free kick. A minute of normal time was left when Jack Sherwood put the ball across into the path of Deji (Alabi). If anything, Deji’s winner eclipsed Will’s strike for that first goal, with a shot on the run from the edge of the box that left the keeper with no chance. Still time for Elroy Wealthyland to come on for Conor Stillwell and for Will to come so close to a second goal with a long shot passing just over the bar. The whistle blew and with it came another 3 points.
After yesterday’s other results Godalming now sit 15 points clear in fourth place and only 3 points off second place. Keep believing, keep winning, and, with credit to Jamie Smith who filled in admirably in goal for Billingshurst in this game, the Circus moves on to Sheerwater on Tuesday for the Surrey Premier Cup Quarter Final, kick off 7.30. I for one will put money on Liam Avery turning up somewhere for them on the night.
COYG’s