Spelthorne Sports returned to the top of the Premier Division on Wednesday night courtesy of a dramatic, stoppage time penalty from Lee Staples that grabbed the away team all three points.Guildford City had thought they had pulled themselves out of the mire in the 90th minute, when Anthony Baker’s header had seemingly rescued a deserved point. However, it wasn’t meant to be and the Sweeney were left heartbroken deep into injury time.
The City side showed four changes to that that faced Farnham on the previous Saturday; both the Guilford brothers were suffering with injury, whilst Liam Harwood and Tom Penson were absent on work duties. Starting the game with three changes to the defence wasn’t advisable against one of the division’s early pace setters, but in the first half it held firm for the home side.
The City midfield opened the game in dominant fashion and it was no surprise when Khari Oriogun dispossessed the last line of defence on 11 minutes, advanced on goal and effortlessly chipped the goalkeeper down the centre to open the scoring. Guildford pressed forward in impressive fashion and after 18 minutes they netted again. Bruce McPhail’s high ball into the box fell to Khari Oriogun 30 yards from goal and in a flash his half volley zipped into the corner of the net (as pictured below).
Spelthorne’s best effort in the first period fell to Jake Flatman whose volleyed attempt went just wide, but generally the visitors were struggling to build attacks with numerous runs falling foul of the offside flag. Then, in the 45th minute, Jamie Richards shot just wide and not heeding the warning, Guildford conceded when Jake Flatman had space to fire low into the corner.
HALF-TIME: Guildford City 2 (Khari Oriogun 2) – Spelthorne Sports 1 (Flatman)
Having pulled themselves back into the game just before half time, momentum in the second half was visibly with the visitors. So it was no surprise on 50 minutes when the lightning fast Jamie Richards broke on the left and crossed for Lee Staples to net at the far post. Eight minutes later, the exercise was repeated; Richards again crossing for Staples, but this time he scored at the near post.
City’s young side were stunned and home keeper Antony Hall was twice called into action to make fine saves, but then the arrival of Scott Todd and Tyler Chambers from the bench sparked life into the home side. Anthony Baker was desperately unlucky not to score following an exquisite turn in the box, but he was not to be denied in the final minute when he rose highest to head home Bruce McPhail’s long throw to make it 3-3. Having equalised at the death, City pushed for a winner, but sadly possession was lost deep in Spelthorne’s half and the opposition broke quickly. A last ditch tackle was drawn in the home box and the referee’s whistle blew, but not for the final whistle and so up stepped that man Staples to clinch a dramatic win.
Team: Antony Hall, Bruce McPhail, Liam Talbot, Elvis Defreitas, David Unwin, Ben Rayner (Scott Todd 65), Anthony Baker, Jordan Taylor, Sam Spencer (Junior Alade 83), Khari Oriogun, Ed Smith (Tyler Chambers 78). Unused subs: Ryan Wallis, Lamin Bah.
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Referee: Caspar Vick
Attendance: 100
Barry Underwood