Godalming Town 1 (0) v (3) 7 Newhaven – PB Cup

We’ve reached January 20th and the combination of the fixture list and the weather finally brought the first game of 2026. A Happy New Year to everyone in and around GTFC.

Agreed, there’s not a lot happy about the scoreline above but as with everything Godalming there’s a story behind it. A big factor was the weather. It wasn’t raining on arrival at the Bill Kyte Stadium and no reason to question the 4.30pm inspection but the weather soon changed for the worse when at 7.15pm the heavens opened and heavy, driving rain continued for the duration of the game. Newhaven, sitting 5th in Premier Division, were not going to be easy opposition whatever the conditions, especially for a Gees team playing their first competitive match in three and a half weeks.

On the park, with Stephen Douglas cup tied, we welcomed the return of Ryan O’Sullivan in goal. Shiloh Ndiulor was back and in defence partnering Elliot Creely at centre back, with Nana Afful and Malik Shittu at full back. Great to see Mark Soares return to the midfield playing alongside Skipper Cam Edwin, Deji Adeosun and Jonny Miller. Tayo Adekoya and Will May were the front players. A full five on the bench comprised of Danilo Carvalho, Deji Alabi, Sam Fernley, Joe Moriarty and Elroy Wealthyland.

In the first minute Malik Shittu was upended in front of the benches, Tayo Adekoya got himself on the end of the free kick but was unable to fashion a finish. Cam played a forward ball picked up by Tayo who cut inside from the left to find Mark Soares, Mark shot just wide of the far post. I’m a halfway line kinda guy but these conditions required refuge in the Road End stand, the end Godalming were attacking of course, so the activity down the other end was a fair way away. A first corner to the visitors didn’t seem to have been dealt with particularly well but we were soon back on the attack and Mark’s run down the right touchline was ended when he was taken out and deposited over the touchline. Following the free kick Godalming kept the pressure up and Tayo found Jonny Miller in front of goal where unfortunately Jonny’s shot turned into more of a chip into a grateful keeper’s arms.

More action down the ‘other’ end saw Newhaven win another three corners but at ‘our’ end Malik and Mark created a chance for Will who shot over the bar. 18 minutes in a Newhaven attack down our right ended with a cross which, judging by the red shirted bodies converging toward the corner flag probably meant Newhaven had scored. Unfortunately they had, 0-1. Despite this set back and the ever increasingly wet conditions the Gees were playing some decent football. On 28 minutes Malik shot inches wide of the post having played a 1-2 with Mark when a goal looked certain.

Newhaven were clearly a very good and very direct side, but Godalming were equally in the game, passing well, playing the football but not creating another killer chance. The wheels came off in the 35th and 38th minutes when Newhaven pounced on a pair of loose clearances by Sully and finished both to lead 3-0. Between the goals Sully needed treatment having gone down injured chasing across the area to clear the ball. A couple of half chances fell Godalming’s way in the time that was left, but it stayed 0-3 at the half time whistle.

Moving to the Training Pitch End Stand there was little protection from the elements as the rain blew up the length of the pitch and somehow it wasn’t the night to believe in another Billingshurst comeback. The standing water in that goalmouth which had accumulated over half time had the appearance of French Onion Soup, minus the croutons, but the Lino inspecting the net seemed unconcerned about the conditions and wouldn’t comment on any chance of an abandonment. For the restart Sam Fernley and Elroy Wealthyland were ready to join the fray. A check of who had gone off revealed that Malik was one of the two and the penny dropped that the second was Cam, except that he was still on the pitch, just down at the other end replacing the injured Sully in goal.

Big credit to Cam for stepping up, he did his very best but where is Rob Parrott when you need him? The rain carried on relentlessly, the state of the pitch put a stop to any football the Gees had been trying to play in the first half and favoured the direct approach of the visitors. The story of the half was another 4 Newhaven goals in the 48th, 53rd, 81st and 85th minutes. As the game progressed an abandonment looked increasingly the right decision but as the clock wound down it was always a decision that was increasingly less likely to be made. Too much paperwork for the officials probably.

Deji Alabi replaced Will May on 65 minutes and ten minutes later Joe Moriaty, going up front, and Danilo Carvalho came on for Tayo and Jonny Miller.Godalming can take something from the second half with a goal from Tayo on 51 minutes to make it 4-1, picking up the ball on the left and finishing by placing the ball under the keeper. Jonny, Deji Alabi (after a Sam Fernley run) and Mark all forced class saves from the Newhaven keeper before the final whistle blew. It’s strange how little Added Time gets added when the weather is awful, isn’t it.

Let’s leave this one behind us and look to the league where we now lead by four points with the chasing packs games in hand gradually evening themselves out. Keep those wins coming!

In theory it’s Uckfield away on Saturday but although on Tuesday night everyone believed it will fall victim to the weather let’s keep focus in case it doesn’t. If it is off on to Saturday January 31st which now sees us play Saltdean at home, the rearranged date for last week’s postponement.

Until then
COYG’s