Match Report: Fleet Town 0 Guildford City 1
In what was arguably their worst performance of the season Fleet Town slumped to another defeat, their fifth loss in a row, during which time they have only scored one goal.
Fleet Town again were forced into making changes to their starting line up, due to player availability and injuries, with Tane Caubo out with his serious injury inflicted on him at Jersey. In what turned out to be a very scrappy game, for long periods, both sides struggled to string more than two or three passes together before giving the ball away, any chances were at a premium.
The opening minutes, saw Guildford City play a couple of potentially dangerous balls into the box, but they only proved easy catching practise for Finley Purcell. A good opening came for Fleet Town after Eight minutes, when Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb played the ball into the box from the right, Chike Kandi played the ball on to Tom Smith out on the left, he struck the ball back across the face of the goal and went wide. Guildford’s best chance of the first half fell to Jake Brown, he ran through with only Finley Purcell to beat, with a lot of space to pick his spot, he hit his shot close to the Fleet keeper and Finley Purcell made the save. The interval came with the score still 0-0.
A half time change for Fleet Town saw matt Surmon come on to replace Luke Phair. An early attack of the half, for Guildford City, Jake Brown played the ball on to Reece Robins, with only Finley Purcell to beat, he shot and Purcell was able to touch the ball round the post for a corner, which was easily dealt with by Fleet.
Fleet Town managed to create some chances, Matt Surmon had an opening but shot wide, a long clearing kick from Finley Purcell found Chike Kandi but as he closed in on goal a heavy touch saw the ball roll into the hands of the visitors keeper. A cross from Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb was met by the head of Matt Surmon, but went over the bar. Guildford carved out a Gold plated opportunity when Deven Reid-Solanki was through, into the box, Finley Purcell wnt to ground as he tried to close him down, Solanki steered the ball past Purcell, but it rolled slowly wide of the post. After Eighty-Eight minutes a corner for Guildford City was lifted to the far post and headed down goalward and scrambled off the line by Fleet and cleared, with all the Guildford players and the Sweeney behind the goal claiming the ball had gone over the line, but their appeals were waved away by the officials. As the game went into the added minutes, it needed some desperate defending by Guildford to keep Fleet out as they won a string of corners, but Fleet could not find a way to break the deadlock. With Fleet looking for a late winner, they were caught out by a quick break up-field by Guildford, Deven Reid-Solanki ran into the box, as the covering defender lay on the pitch following some contact, Solanki smashed the ball into the net to put Guildford ahead in the fifth minute of added time, with Fleet complaining to the officials that their defender had been pushed over, as the whole Guildford team including subs who ran over from the bench, celebrated in the corner with their fans. The officials would not listen to any of the Fleet complaints and sent Ross Stepney to the Sin Bin. for the final seconds played after the restart, as Guildford City held on to win 1-0.
In other matches a win for Tadley Calleva sees them close to only two points behind Fleet Town and looking to snatch the last play off place away from Fleet Town. Fleet now need to reverse their dip in form quickly to try to hold onto a play off position.
Fleet Town are back in action on Tuesday night at The Easy As HGV Stadium against 4th placed Cobham, before another string of three away games.
