Match Report

Selmes Brace puts Guild Back to Winning Ways

On an excellent playing surface and conditions perfect for football the Guild took all three points against lowly Chipstead to keep the Guild heading in the right direction.

Once again, despite missing a number of regular faces – Cleaver, B (ankle), Cleaver, L (Back), Koutsoudis & Roots (Ligaments), Hawkes (broken hand) St John (“suspended”), Williams L & Williams J (hols) we performed to a good standard and deserved the result.

Edwards came into the sticks for St John and Nott and Charlton came up from the reserves to help out. They were joined on the bench by Small. An excellent response from our reserves to help out when needed, my thanks go to all three of you.

Once again from kick off and not to break with tradition we gave the ball away and put Chipstead on the attack. Chipstead forced an early corner which swung dangerously in and clipped the top of the bar. I’m sure Edwards would say it was covered.

After a nervy start, the Guild started to settle down and played some excellent passing football. We were starting to get on top of Chipstead who were working hard to try and squash our attacks. Chances came and went and we needed a goal to make our good possession count. The goal came on 15 minutes and it was worth the wait when Stevens nonchalantly finished from 8 yards after excellent work from Warren, Perkins and Cooke - a great team goal and a first League goal from the 16 year old Stevens.

A few minutes later Stevens thought he had doubled his and Farnborough’s tally with a stunning half volley that was expertly denied by Porter in the Chipstead goal, pulling off a remarkable stop. In the last 15 minutes before the half, Chipstead had their best spell and started to get into the game more. A harmless free kick into the box was latched onto by the pacy Bridger whose effort came off the post and the danger was cleared – but it was a warning sign for the Guild. Chipstead finished the half the better side, but the Guild were one nil to the good.

At the half we spoke about complacency and the fact that we still had a couple of gears to go and we needed to switch back on again as we had finished the last 15 minutes of the half poorly.

Within the first few minutes of the half, Chipstead drew level from the spot after a very harshly awarded penalty. The ball did not touch the hand of Davis and the referee somehow pointed to the spot. Our appeals were in vain, which somewhat tarnished what was a really good referreeing display by Mr Williams.

This could have signalled a dramatic collapse as sometimes these decisions feel as though the world is against you. However, the response was nothing but positive and it added more desire to the Guild cause. Within ten minutes the Guild were ahead after a great run from midfield by Selmes culminated in a goal to put the Guild deservedly ahead. The goal gave the Guild a much need lift and further spurred us on to play really decent football.

A great through ball left Cooke J straight through on goal, and you would have put your mortgage on him bagging but the casual finish was wide of the target; later blaming a Robbie Fowler video for the miss (the words ‘straws’ and ‘clutching’ came immediately to mind).

Minutes later Cooke J was through and lobbed the onrushing keeper from 25 yards but the goal was harshly ruled for offside.

The killer third goal arrived on 70 minutes when a fantastic deep cross by the rampaging Warren left the keeper in no-mans-land and again a late run by Selmes done the damage when he expertly headed in from a tight angle.

Graham and Stevens were replaced by Small and Charlton.

The Guild was now dominant but Chipstead were not out of it by any means. The Guild kept the ball well and had excellent passing movement across the defence, through the midfield and was working well with the forwards. A number of other opportunities were carved out, but the wrong decisions were made at the key times.

Nott replaced the emotional Selmes.

In the last 5 minutes, Chipstead and two good opportunities to draw level. A shot from Castleton was well saved by Edwards in the Guild goal and an effort by Bridger at the death was well wide of its intended target.

Three-one it finished and it was the right result.

Manager’s man of the match was given to Stevens who was backed up by the players, narrowly ahead of Selmes. Stevens worked hard in both directions, was resourceful with the ball in both retention and delivery and also opened his and the team's goal scoring account on the day; not bad for a 16 year old who plays well above his years.

Other performances of note were Selmes whose late runs in the box caused havoc and are difficult to mark as well as romantically treating his missus to a trip down to the Village for a pineapple juice and cheese roll. Eales played his best game in a guild shirt and ably assisted Stevens down the left and Warren who was rampant down the right hand side and having a hand in two of the three goals.

Again, despite the lack of personnel it was a pretty comprehensive performance and some good passing football was played across the park with good ball retention. This week (unlike the last game) we had more penetration up front and created a lot more opportunities through innovation in the attacking element of midfield.

Next week we have bottom of the league Westerham who dumped us out of the cup earlier in the season. Provided we play with he same level of confidence in the same excellent style and attitude, we should be aiming to take all three points.

Farnborough: 1.Edwards; 2. Warren; 3. Eales; 4. Judge; 5. Davis; 6. Abbott; 7. Graham; 8. Selmes; 9. Perkins; 10. Cooke J; 11. Stevens;
Subs: 12. Small for 7. Graham; 15. Nott for 8. Selmes; 11. Stevens for 16. Charlton

Chipstead: 1. Porter; 2. Gofton; 3. Asplin; 4. Johnson; 5. Norburn; 6. Onions; 7. Rawlins; 8. Castleton; 9. Bridger; 10. Reece; 11.Chapman;
Subs: 12. Wilken; 14. Porter; 15. East