Saltdean 2 (1) v (1) 3 Godalming Town
In a mixed Godalming Town performance, an excellent spell early in the second half was enough to secure three points on the road against Saltdean United. Mo Sher made two changes from the team that started against Reigate Priory in the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup first round on Tuesday night, both in defence, with Alex Afful returning at right back and Rob Parrott partnered again with Shiloh Ndiulor at centre back.
With Saltdean’s Hill Park ground currently under development, the game took place at Newhaven’s Fort Road – a venue the Gs had not previously visited. A recently as four seasons ago the Tigers were denied a place at Step 4 only due to ground-grading issues; however, they’ve since endured three rotten seasons – including a rock bottom finish in the Southern Combination Premier Division last campaign that saw them win only three games in the league.
In rather grey, breezy conditions, the game kicked off with Saltdean in red and black stripes and Godalming in their classic yellow and green shirts, though – for another season, oddly – sporting blue shorts. It was a fairly slow start, with the first sight of goal coming in the ninth minute and for the Gs, as Ali Haddadji won the ball back in the final third before teeing up Mark Soares, whose deflected shot went narrowly wide. A couple of minutes later Deji Alabi’s snapshot flew past the post.
Saltdean’s first opening came in the 13th minute. Captain Alfie Edmeads’ corner fell to Ed Bradley following a less than convincing punch from Fabio Suarez, though the Gs stopper made amends with a smart save to deny the Tigers’ full-back’s follow-up effort.
In the 21st minute Haddadji went down with a hamstring injury, with Elroy Wealthyland coming on in his place. At this stage of the match the Gs were struggling to impose themselves, but an opportunity to take the lead was to come their way some six minutes later. Good work down the right by Alabi and Will May – the latter doing well to keep the ball in play – saw Cameron Edwin in the box. He was upended by Thai Beebee and the referee pointed to the spot. Mark Soares stepped up and, following an impressive selection of Godalming penalties during Tuesday’s shootout victory against Reigate, he made no mistake, smashing the ball beyond the dive of Alfie Whatman for his second goal of the season.
Despite taking the lead Godalming continued to be relatively lacklustre, giving the ball away cheaply at times and failing to put together any cohesive attacks. Saltdean hadn’t really threatened, but drew themselves level a few minutes before the interval. A deep freekick from Beebee was spilled by Suarez, resulting in a throw-in. Bradley had already demonstrated his impressive reach from throws and, after the Gs initially dealt with the danger, the ball came back out to Bradley, who cut inside Malik Shittu and sent in a cross that evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net. It was all square at the break, albeit with the Tigers’ tails firmly up.
It’s become something of a recent trend for the Gs to come out firing at the start of a second half after a slow opening 45 and this was the case today, with a 10-minute spell showcasing how this team can – and should – be challenging for the title this season. Merely 30 seconds in, Edwin’s mishit shot was saved by Whatman, and moments later he won the ball back well to play in Soares, whose neat first-time pass set up May, resulting in the Gs frontman seeing his shot deflected wide.
The subsequent corner from Soares had to be tipped over by Whatman, with the following set piece producing a goal. Shittu’s low cross was intelligently dummied by Ndiulor and Parrott on hand to drive the ball home.
By now the Gs were flying, dominating the midfield, pressing high and pinning Saltdean back. A third goal came as soon as the 51st minute, when Afful’s throw on the halfway line found Wealthyland, who played an excellent through ball to Alabi, who coolly slotted past the advancing Whatman.
After this brilliant spell from Godalming, they – and the game – settled, until a triple change by Saltdean triggered a route back into the match for the Tigers in the 69th minute. Substitutes Toby Reeder, Jaydon Tant and Sam Dunstall – introduced moments earlier – were all involved in a smart move that culminated in Reeder’s shot being blocked, the loose ball being hit sweetly by Charlie Yates and curling into the far corner.
As they had been following their first-half equaliser, Saltdean were buoyed by the goal and began to dominate the ball. This prompted Sher to make a couple of changes to his backline, with Jack Sherwood coming on for Shittu and Ndiulor replaced by Elliot Creely.
Despite chiefly trying to see the game out now, the Gs carved out some openings on the break, with May shooting wide and substitute Jonny Miller arrowing the ball over the bar.
It was only in stoppage time that Saltdean truly ramped up the pressure, the most heart-in-mouth moment being an Alex Patching shot that was superbly blocked by Edwin. Ultimately though Godalming did well to kill the game in the final moments and secure the win, their second in the league against recently relegated opposition. It wasn’t a vintage full 90-minute display by any means, but good enough today.
Attentions now turn to the FA Vase first qualifying round and a trip to Horsham to play Copthorne on Friday (22 August) night. Having exited the competition at the first hurdle in the previous two seasons, Gs fans will be hoping for progress this time.
COYGs