Godalming Town 2 (1) v (0) Billingshurst Div 1 – League

Godalming Town secured an important three points against fellow promotion hopefuls Billingshurst on Tuesday night, with a gritty 2-0 home win ending a run of three matches without victory for the Gs – and signalling a first triumph at Wey Court since November.

In a game that wasn’t easy on the eye, Billingshurst enjoyed more possession but struggled to create many open play chances. An early penalty from Mark Soares – his 20th goal of the season – and a sumptuous late strike from substitute Will May ensured Godalming took all three points, in a defensively excellent performance typical of those that have seen the Gs climb to the top of the table.

After switching to three at the back in the disappointing loss to Infinity on Saturday, Mo Sher reverted to his more typical back four. Notably, Oli McAleese made a first start since suffering his nasty injury in last season’s playoff semi-final defeat at the end of April – and he filled in laudably at left-back. Up front, Will May dropped to the bench, with Tayo Adekayo the focal point of the attacking three.

Wey Court’s pitch is particularly bobbly at the moment, something that was never going to suit a passing side such as Billingshurst. Indeed, their first opening was a set piece, with Kieran Britland bending a free-kick narrowly over the bar in the 7th minute.

Two minutes later, the bumpy surface had a say in the awarding of an early Gs penalty. Soares intercepted a stray pass from Brandon Engstrom and played through Adekayo, with a bounce off a divot helping the rangy striker flick the ball into his path, before he was clattered by goalkeeper Josh Measor. Soares stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot kick low to Measor’s left, settling any early Godalming nerves.

In the 22nd minute, Luke Brodie headed a Britland free-kick narrowly over the bar for the visitors. A scrappy first-half meant it took until the 39th minute for another chance to be created, this time Louis Lindsay firing over following a Godalming break. In first-half stoppage time, Brodie nodded a James Bendell cross wide.

The Hurst continued to dominate the ball in the second half but remained restricted to set pieces for their best openings. In the 55th minute, Brodie’s 30-yard free-kick drew a smart save from Stephen Douglas down low to his right. From the resulting corner, Ronnie Reeves saw his effort scrambled out of the six-yard-box by the Godalming defence.

On the hour mark, Adekayo headed a pinpoint Soares cross over the bar in a rare Godalming opportunity. Shortly afterwards, Billingshurst manager Eddie French made an attacking triple substitution, reshuffling his frontline with Reeves pushed on as the central forward and Nick Tilley and Matt Hards in support. The result was a slight increase in pressure from the visitors, but they still struggled to impose themselves in the final third.

Sher made some changes, too, May replacing Adekayo and, with 15 minutes remaining, the returning Conor Stillwell for James Mariner, which added energy to the Gs midfield. Stillwell had a great chance to make it 2-0 only minutes after his introduction. A delicate touch from May allowed Soares to send the midfielder through on goal, but Jake Coltham-Lai cleared the effort off the line after Measor got a strong glove to the ball.

With Billingshurst continuing to probe, it felt like Godalming needed a second goal as the clock whittled down and, in the 84th minute, they got one – and how. A long pass forward by Nana Afful saw Stillwell in down the right, and the midfielder did well to reach the ball before sending in a deep cross that was missed by Bendell, landing on the foot of fellow substitute May, who arched a wonderful volley into the top corner of Measor’s net.

You could feel the tension dissipate at Wey Court, and the remainder of the game played out steadily. As the full-time whistle went, many Gs fans knew this victory ticked a lot of boxes – a return to winning ways, a first home victory in six matches, a well-earned clean sheet and defeating a fellow promotion candidate. It may not have been the best or prettiest performance – but champions find a way to win when not necessarily playing well, right?

Godalming are on the road on Saturday (14 March), visiting midtable Mile Oak, before back-to-back Saturday home games against Arundel (21 March) and Saltdean United (28 March), as the season approaches a potentially exciting climax.