Godalming Town 4 (2) v (0) 0 AFC Uckfield – League
Godalming Town moved into top spot in the league table by clocking up a fifth league win from five games in front of another good crowd and early September sunshine at Wey Court. By commandingly beating Uckfield with their first 4 goal haul of the campaign they also maintained an eight-game winning start to the season in all competitions. Looking good!
A return to league action saw a few changes to Tuesday’s Cup line up. Fabio Suarez wore the gloves and in front of him Rob Parrott returned to partner Elliot Creely as the centre back pairing with Nana Afful and Jack Sherwood at full back. Captain Cam Edwin was on patrol in front of the defence together with the returning Deji Adeosun. On the right, Deji Alabi and Mark Soares supported Will May up front with Jonny Miller completing the starting line up on the left flank. Five players filled the bench; Elroy Wealthyland and James Mansfield, we know well, and it was good to see Ali Haddadji was fit again and able to join them. Accompanying those three we welcome two new faces: Sam Fernley and Alex McLean.
In the opening seconds Will May was able to pounce on some very loose defensive work from the visitors, rob the ball and get it out to and back from Mark Soares. Unfortunately, his shot, from a tight angle, hit the side netting. From their own throw-in Uckfield gave the ball away cheaply again but this time the linesman’s offside flag stopped Will’s progress toward goal. On 8 minutes Deji Alabi won the Gees’ first corner after his shot was deflected behind and shortly after, having beaten three defenders enroute, his finish wasn’t quite good enough to beat the Uckfield keeper. Deji was unlucky a third time when he picked up Mark Soares’s return pass and saw his shot cleared off the line by an Uckfield defender’s legs straight into their keeper’s arms.
An injury to an Uckfield player on 22 minutes forced their first substitution of the match and shortly after came a Water break, a rarity for September. The restart was immediately followed by a yellow card for a foul on Jonny Miller. The Gees seemed to go ultra defensive with everybody pulled back for an Uckfield free kick and it was left to Rob Parrott to power up field on the break and see how far he could get on his own.
We’d witnessed Mark, Will and Jonny all carve out decent efforts on goal that went either that bit wide of the mark or were saved. Even so no score, and with injury time upon us, it had been 45 minutes dominated by Godalming with Fabio pretty much a bystander. That changed not once but twice before the half time whistle blew. Jonny Miller picked up the ball two minutes into the added period and with two paces forward played a great pass to Mark Soares on the left of the area. Mark gave a trademark shuffle and bore down on goal to place the ball firmly in the back of the net, 1-0. Two minutes later it was 2-0 and I hope he won’t be offended by my saying so, but it came from an unlikely source, that ever-dependable right back, Nana Afful. Nana picked up the ball from somewhere around halfway, took off and didn’t stop until the ball was buried in the net. His first goal for the club. The whistle blew straight after the restart, and three or four nil wouldn’t have been an unjust half time scoreline.
The same eleven retook the field and we only had to wait for 5 minutes of the second half before Mark Soares made it 3-0 with a goal I have been asked to describe as a ‘scintillating finish’. The goal maker was Rob, who, as he does, won a challenge just over the halfway line and passed to Mark. Mark did the rest from fully 35 yards with a strike rocketing in over the keeper’s head. The hour mark delivered the first two changes for Godalming when ‘The Deji’s’ came off for Elroy Wealthyland, and for Alex McLean to make his debut appearance, both taking up midfield positions. And from there the game became a little pedestrian, Godalming clearly on top against an Uckfield team, some of whose grey shirts were turning darker from sweat, clearly pointing out which players were making the effort out there. By the time of our first change the visitors already had all five subs in play.
Alex McLean saw a promising effort saved after good build up play with Cam. Cam was part of a three-man changeover on 72 minutes, the captain’s armband passing to Nana. Cam left the field together with Jonny Miller and Jack Sherwood, while James Mansfield and Ali Haddadji came on, with Sam Fernley making his debut in the left back slot. James and Ali were straight into the fray combining to find Will May, Will in turn set up Mark who unluckily rattled the bar with a shot from range again. Fabio took out a cross in a rare moment of action for him, the ball out finding Mark Soares who ran forty yards to win a corner. With five minutes of normal time left Ali swung over a cross from the left which was cleared away for another corner. Mark took the kick from the right and Rob Parrott was on hand (head) stooping low in space to make the score 4-0. Alex McLean had another effort go close before the whistle brought the game to an end.
This great start to the season continues and at last a goal tally in a game that begins to reflect the chances created in the 90 minutes. However, there’s still a long way to go and no doubt some drama to come somewhere along the road, although wouldn’t it be good if there wasn’t.
We can’t close without sending our very best wishes for a swift recovery to Lisa Ballam. Lisa, get well soon.
The show moves on to next Tuesday at 7.45pm and the second visit of the season to the Bill Kyte for Reigate Priory. This time there will be no penalty shootout, it’s the home League match.
COYG’s