Godalming Town 2 (0) v (1) 2 Corinthian Casuals – League

The Club parted company with manager Mo Sher following last Saturday’s defeat at Redhill. Mo is a true gent, and he leaves the Club after two memorable years, crowned by winning the league title and promotion last season. Many thanks for the ride, Mo; your name and legacy is etched into the history of Godalming Town FC.

After that what’s next then? Spare a thought for Chairman Tony who a few weeks ago could be forgiven for believing that the subject of the team wearing Green or Blue Shorts was the greatest problem lying at his door. Instead, before kick-off on Saturday, he found all eyes were on him and more particularly any stranger that he spoke with, as supporters sought a clue to discovering where and with whom the managerial roundabout might stop. In the interim though Jack Webb and Rob Parrott made their pitch for immortality as they jointly took the helm for the visit of Corinthian Casuals.

Jack and Rob’s starting line-up showed no changes in defence with Stephen Douglas in goal and Marcus Travers and Elliot Creeley as centre backs, Nana Afful was right back and nominally Jonny Miller continued at left back although as the game proceeded it was clear that he had a roving brief to get forward. Around captain Cam Edwin in the middle were Conor Stillwell, Taylor Green and Deji Alabi. Up front Dan Boyden sat in behind Ronnie Reeves. Good to see both Taylor and Dan back in action. Only one new welcome to give out this week, and it’s to Jayden Smith, who took his place on the bench alongside Shane Johnson, Jav Waugh, Diego Bruno and Declan Joyce.

Casuals had the ball in the net inside two minutes; the defence hadn’t settled but fortunately a handball call came to the Gees rescue, goal disallowed. And so the game settled down into a pattern that looked all too familiar, with the opposition looking too comfortable on the ball and the home side conceding ground in front of them. Who was the wag who said after only 11 minutes that at least we hadn’t let a goal in yet? After 25 minutes the Gees had faced three corners, and Dougie had been called on to make a couple of not too-taxing saves before they mustered their first real effort on goal at the other end. Dan Boyden, looking lively, had a shot blocked by the defence after a nice build up involving Ronnie and Jonny.

On the half hour mark a Casuals corner was cleared to be followed up by long throw. The throw wasn’t dealt with in its passage across the goalmouth and an easy header on the far post opened the scoring for the visitors. The closest Godalming came to getting a goal back before the break came from a Taylor Green cross which was skied by a Casuals boot and ended up, fortunately for them, in their keepers’ arms. We did win a corner though, took it short and most certainly did not cover ourselves in glory. Only two more incidents of note before the whistle and that was a pair of yellow cards for the opposition: both for fouls on first Deji and secondly Dan. Cue half time for the big crowd of 322.

No changes for the restart, just a challenge from the management duo to ‘go out and get something from the game’, and that they did. The Gees showed much more intent from the kick-off, Cam immediately had a shot blocked and Jonny Miller won a corner, taken properly this time. Cam got a boot to the corner but couldn’t keep his shot down. Conor saw a yellow card for a challenge on halfway, but the visitors were being denied the space they had enjoyed in the first 45 minutes. Ronnie picked up a Dougie long ball and played in Dan who made space for a shot, going just too high. A double Gees substitution on the hour mark replaced Taylor and Conor with Jav Waugh and Shane Johnson. Seconds later it was 1-1 with ‘first touch of the game’ Shane guiding home a low ball delivered from the right and across the area by Ronnie Reeves.

Godalming kept the pressure up, the Casuals’ keeper fortunate to recover a fumble going for a ball sent in from Jonny Miller and fortunate again to have a Deji Alabi effort deflected into his arms. Good work in that build up from Cam, Elliot, Ronnie and Jav. By my count a third yellow to the visitors followed a foul on Nana. The Ronnie and Shane combination seemed to be clicking, the former set up the latter for an effort which the keeper gathered on the second attempt and then it was Deji’s’ turn to create another chance which was no more than a foot over the bar. 73 minutes, and to that point one way traffic, Casuals attacked, the ball fell to one of theirs who we watched drive the ball wide past Stephen’s right post. Attention moved to the penalty area where the referee was pointing to the spot, as nearby Cam and A N Other were getting to their feet. A soft penalty duly converted and a yellow for Cam. Now 2-1 behind, poor reward for the Gees’ efforts in the half so far.

The cards were out again before the restart, Rob Parrott receiving one and the Casuals bench another. Earlier Jack Webb had also seen yellow; you have got to love their passion and to regret that no bookie would take a bet on yellow cards for them both on their debut! Jayden Smith came on for Dan Boyden with 15 minutes remaining. A handball followed by the kicking away of the ball meant a second yellow card as the visitors went down to 10 men. The last substitution of the day, on 85 minutes, saw Diego Bruno on for Jonny Miller, who’d put in yet another good shift. The clock was ticking away, but chances were still being created. Shane got through but was flagged offside and later he was off running again; no penalty was the decision when he went down in the box. It’s different when a team is struggling isn’t it, things just conspire not to go your way.

Into injury time, 90+4 to be precise, and Jayden won a corner on the right. Deji Alabi went over to take it. It’s long been my observation that if you stick around with this football club for any length of time you will witness things that you will not get to see elsewhere. Hands up, I couldn’t see what difference it would make and said as much, but Stephen Douglas decided he would go up for the corner. A great delivery from Deji floated into the box. And it was our goalkeeper who got there first and lifted the ball high into the net. You had to see it to believe it!

Cue a 2-2 draw being celebrated a big as any win. A great result from a great second half team effort. As I said above, ‘After that what’s next then?’

For a start it’s Tooting and Mitcham away, 7.45pm on Tuesday.

COYG’s