Godalming Town 3 (2) v (1) 2 Copthorne – League

Only days after beating Copthorne away at Horsham, in the FA Vase, we met them again at home In the League. With the same outcome, that leaves the lads in second place in the table and with games in hand. So, not much to be disappointed about you would have thought, but the score this time implies a close game, which it was not, in my view. We should have walked off the pitch nearer 4 – 0 up. That would have been a better reflection of the game. But football does not always give you what you deserve.

The G’s team was short of a few who are suffering injuries. Ali Hidadji still has a week or two to go, and James Mansfield is also out with a dodgy knee, as is Matt Cox (who is definitely not invisible) who turned up to watch Friday night saying he had injured his other ankle in training.  So, when you consider Ollie Mc Aleese as well, a few down even this early in the season. Fortunately, we have such strength in depth.

It was Fabio Suarez in goal, with Malik Shittu and Alex Afful as the full/wingbacks. Rob Parrott and Jack Sherwood as the centre back pairing, making another change in that position. James Mariner in front of the back four with Deji Adeosun in the middle. Deji Alabi and Mark Suarez as the wide players and Cam Edwin as Number 10 with Will May centre forward. On the bench were Jonny Miller, Elroy Wealthyland, Louis Lindsay, Ollie Ballam and Darren Xavier.

It was a bright sunny day with temperatures forecast to hit 25degC later in the day, as we saw play start. Only a couple of minutes after the kick off, the G’s were awarded a corner as they attacked at the road end. Mark Soares delivered the ball in, towards the back post and Rob rose “like a salmon” to head the ball home and put the Gs one up. It made a welcome change from Friday when we conceded within minutes.

This looked a different Copthorne side than the one we had seen last Friday.

On 25 minutes we saw Cameron get up to a Rob Parrot clearance from defence and flicking the ball forward to where Will was pressurising the Copthorne centre backs. One of them failed to make contact with the ball, leaving Will open to advance on the goalkeeper, which he did beautifully, drawing him out, then going past him before slipping the ball into the net, making it two nil now to the Gs, which was probably a good reflection of the game so far. Looking comfortable.

The Gs continued to take their time building up play and bought a fine save from the visiting keeper after some good play by Mark Suarez and a fine shot from Deji Alabi with the visiting keeper just managing, at full stretch, to put the ball round for a corner.

From that corner the ball bobbled around in the visitor’s penalty area before Rob got his head to it forcing a clearance from a defender near the line.

The Gs, as we have done a few times this season, then gifted their opposition a goal as a Copthorne player was allowed to come in behind the Gs defence and head past Fabio as it seemed he would collect it. Now 2-1.

Another great chance for the G’s where they broke forward and Deji Alabi was left bearing down on the goal under the attention of a defender, but still managed to get a great left footed shot away that was heading just under the cross bar before the visiting keeper again managed to get a hand to it, to tip the ball over.

So, despite the efforts the score was 2-1 at half time.

No changes in the Gs set up and they kept coming. A good attack from Malik saw a desperate clearance from a Copthorne defender spiral its way out for another Gs corner. This was met by Rob who was only inches high with his headed effort. Great to see the Gs wing backs getting forward with effect in recent games.

With the dust rising off the Wey Court pitch we saw some great play between Mark and Cameron on the right- hand side to go around defenders with Mark finally putting the ball in for Will to get the third for the Gs. Some breathing space at last. Another fine performance from Will up front.

 Cam then made way for Johny to come on, having been instrumental in so much play for the Gs.

The Gs then appeared to go 4 -1 up from a great header by Will from a ball from the right, but the linesman on that side mysteriously raised his flag for offside. I was pretty well in line and to me there was no way he was, although Cam was, being knelt down retying his boots, so absolutely “inactive”. But on querying it with the said lino he reaffirmed that it was the guy who scored whom he felt was offside.

To cap his poor luck from decisions on the day Will was taken out by the Copthorne keeper well outside of the penalty area as he was advancing on his goal. A yellow card was shown, but the referee in consultation with the same linesman felt that was it.

Mark took a shot at goal from the free kick and again the Visiting keeper had to go full stretch to knock the ball around for yet another Gs corner. From this delivery the Gs nearly got another with the ball tantalisingly bobbling about in the 6-yard box and no Gs player could make the connection to tap home it seemed. Will appeared to be upended in the tousle, but again the referee was not for penalising.

Elroy came on to add his pace to the midfield and replace Deji Adeosun who had worked so hard and dominated his patch throughout the game.

Louis Lindsay then came on for Deji Alabi who had had another good performance.

Fabio was called upon at the other end to tip a long shot around as the time was running down.

A powerful shot from Louis on the edge of the area saw the ball fly just over the Copthorne crossbar, yet again.

Darren Xavier came on to replace Will up front. He was involved straight away in chasing down some through balls against some tiring defenders.

Then as the ref was looking at his watch an unfortunate clearance was delivered straight to a Copthorne player who made the most by getting a consolation goal right at the death.

All round, apart from the soft goals conceded, a very good performance I thought from the squad, which on any other day would have seen them win at a canter, with a bit of help from the footballing Gods.

But, still unbeaten and now in second place in the League with games in hand, so a mighty good start to the season. Far better than we saw last year.

 Off to Arundel next Saturday.

So, COYGs.