Godalming Town 1 (0) v (0) 0 Copthorne – Div. 1 Cup

The last day of September brought us the fourth game of the season against Copthorne, having won all three of the previous tussles.

After a storming start to season 2025-26 the previous three games hadn’t quite hit the heights that we have seen in the matches that preceded them. It’s been an intense start though in terms of the number of games played so far. When you look at some numbers the lads have had 15 games in the first seven and a half weeks of this season compared with 13 this time last year, and that season started a week earlier. That is strange fare in a competition which, compared to 2024-25, has four less league games for each side. I can only think someone must be very worried about the prospective state of the winter pitches rather than blank Saturdays. The familiarity of the opposition and the number of games played so far were no doubt factors that saw the lowest attendance at Wey Court for quite some time.

A changed line up for this game found Fabio Suarez return between the posts, in front of him, from right to left, were Malik Shittu, Elliot Creely, Jack Sherwood and Sam Fernley. James Mariner was captain and positioned himself in central midfield with Elroy Wealthyland and Louis Lindsay alongside. Will May started up front with Mark Soares and Jonny Miller providing support and width. Waiting in the wings were Nana Afful, Deji Adeosun, Nasim Regragui, Shiloh Ndiulor and Cam Edwin.

Copthorne forced two corners in succession very early after the kickoff. This Copthorne side looked more mobile than the lineups we’d seen in the previous games and with several new looking names on the board a total of 33 different Copthorne players have now stepped onto the pitch in the four games thus far, more than our total squad. The Gees first chance fell to Will May who was dispossessed before he could capitalize on a great ball from Jonny Miller. Sam Fernley showed us a blistering turn of pace running down the left only to have his ball over cleared by the defence. 15 minutes in and Sam hit a ball downfield to Mark Soares. Mark lobbed the ball into the path of Will May, but a heavy touch allowed the Copthorne keeper to smother it first.

There were touches of good play between the men in yellow, Malik and Mark featuring on more than one occasion and Sam Fernley continuing to impress in both defence and coming forward with his pace. It wasn’t all one way and in a spell before the half-hour mark Copthorne mustered three chances, none of which troubled Fabio.

It wasn’t until 32 minutes had gone by that the Gees won their first corner, Mark Soares’ shot deflected behind after a superb pass from Elliot Creely presented him with the chance. In the final action of the half Elliot played another top drawer pass through to Jonny Miller, only for another corner to result from his shot. Goalless at half time.

As you were for the start of the second half and Malik Shittu went down early under a challenge and spent some time being treated on the pitch. No free kick was given, and for his next tackle Malik received a yellow card. An early change saw Deji Adeosun replace Louis Lindsay after 8 minutes of the half gone. A small bout of handbags threatened when a corner was awarded from a defection after the ball hit Jonny solidly on the head. Two more substitutions for the Gees took place on 61 minutes with Nasim Regragui and Nana Afful taking over from Louis Lindsay and Malik Shittu. Deji played a ball into the box and a strong appeal for handball was waived away by the man in black.

On 68 minutes Cam Edwin was introduced into the game to replace Elroy. Nasim’s presence on the park seemed to spark some life into the game and he was unlucky to see a header turned out from under the bar for a corner, Cam providing the cross. Sam set off on another run forward, this time down the middle of the park. He was pushed wide by the defence but managed a shot which was booted away up field. Deji sent a ball over to Will who headed into the path of Nasim, his shot going over the bar. The final change of the night took place with 8 minutes remaining and saw Jonny Miller give way to Shiloh Ndiulor. Shiloh immediately made a mark pouncing on a Mark Soares cross, he hit the ball with some power, but it went just inches too high.

86 minutes gone and penalties looming? Well maybe not. Mark Soares crossed from the right, Will May was positioned to meet it under the bar, a few inches from the goal line, and headed the ball home to make it 1-0. From the restart the good work was almost undone as Copthorne blitzed on masse toward the Godalming goal, but a weak final effort was no problem for Fabio. The Gees twice almost produced a second goal as they saw the clock out, the first effort through Cam, who picked up a knock back from Shiloh and forced a decent save from the keeper. Nasim then broke up field and found Mark to his right where only the near post prevented Mark from adding to his goal tally this season.

Back to the bread and butter of the league at 3pm on Saturday and away at Ringmer, another trip somewhere new.

COYG’s