Website Editors Review of 2007/08

The season got off to a storming start way back in August 2007 when City, with lots of new faces and a new management team, travelled to highly fancied Egham Town in the seasons opener. A 5-0 score line did not do justice to the football lesson City handed out to the home side. To be fair I don't think it was so much that Egham were poor, it was just the high tempo passing and movement of the City boys that would have run anyone ragged on the day. This game remains my favourite memory of a brilliant season.

Best Performance
Saturday 11 August 2007
Egham Town 0 Guildford City 5

Honourable mentions to Bookham (H), Reading Town (H), Bedfont (H) and Bedfont Green (A)

Our reward for beating Sussex League side Pagham in the previous round of the FA Vase was a trip to Kent League side Erith & Belvedere. Erith ground share a magnificent facility with Welling United, plus with some beautiful sunny weather on the day this made for a great Cup tie. Make no mistakes this was a tricky away tie for City. Erith & Belvedere were riding high in their league and would have felt themselves big favourite to progress at our expense. Unfortunately for them Scott Steele's men were fired up for this game, and with 40 minutes on the clock had fired themselves into a jaw dropping 3-0 lead. Right on the stroke of half time Erith hit back to make it 3-1.
Within a few minutes of the re-start Erith made it 2-3 and were right back in it. City went and made it 4-2 before missing a penalty. Not long after that City did make it 5-2. Game over? No way. Erith never gave up and in the last 10 minutes pulled the score back to 5-4 with City having a real scrap in the last few minutes to cling on to the win. We did it but Erith can be congratulated on helping make this one of the best cup ties I have ever witnessed.

Most Entertaining
Saturday 6 October 2007
Erith & Belvedere 4 Guildford City 5

Honourable mentions to Chessington & Hook (H & A), Ash United (H) and Dorking (H)

By mid February the race to catch up runaway leaders Merstham was a three way battle between City, Cove and Camberley Town. City had lost to Camberley at Spectrum so a defeat in the return match at Krooner Park would not only give Camberley the double over City, but it would help the home side leap frog City into second place. A sunny and cool late winters day made for perfect weather for a football match between two quality sides. The first half an hour was very even which was only to be expected. From out of the blue and from around 22 yard out Reece White unleashes an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the Camberley net. Not only was this candidate for the goal of the season but it was the difference between the two sides on the day.

Favourite Goal
Saturday 16 February 2008
Camberley Town 0 Guildford City 1

Honourable mentions to White v Bookham (A), Sheppard v Banstead (H) and May v Banstead (H)

City hosted Ryman Premier side Carshalton Athletic in the last 16 of the Surrey Senior Cup. Carshalton were starting a slide into the bottom reaches of their league by the time they arrived at Spectrum on a freezing January evening but were still regarded as hot favourites to progress. For most of the first half the visitors lived up to their billing as favourites by playing some outstanding football which City had a lot of difficulty in matching. Within twenty minutes the visitors had stormed into a 2-0 lead and at that stage the rest of the fixture looked a forgone conclusion. However just on half time City pulled one back.

The second half saw City build up a real head of steam, and although Carshalton always looked dangerous in City's half, we were playing with some real belief. The equaliser duly arrived to herald wild joy amongst the City part of the crowd. The rest of the 90 minutes remained goalless, as was the extra 30 minutes of extra time.
A penalty shootout was won by City, with Jay Gindre the hero, making a couple of saves to seal our victory.

Best Fight Back
Wednesday 16 January 2008
Guildford City 2 Carshalton Athletic 2, City win on penalties

Honourable mentions to Cobham (H) 0-2/2-2, Reading Town (A) 0-1/3-1 and Banstead (H) 2-3/4-3

The reward for knocking out Carshalton Athletic in the previous round of the Surrey Senior Cup was a trip to Ryman Division One side Whyteleafe. The first attempt at playing the game was foiled by the weather only minutes before kick off leaving the many City supporters who had travelled by train frustrated at the wasted journey. However one week later, game on. This night saw both players and supporters of Guildford City truly shine. The team on the field unfortunately fell to a goal in the very last minute of extra time despite a fantastic all round performance. The off field team, marshalled superbly well by Matt Howell and his mates from the University of Surrey also took many plaudits, including from the opposition. The fans sang for virtually the entire 120 minutes and helped create the best atmosphere of the season.

Best Atmosphere
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Whyteleafe 1 Guildford City 0

Honourable mentions to VTFC (A), Merstham (A) and Reading Town (A)

Out of all the photos taken whilst following Guildford this season, below are my personal favourites (BTW what are your favourites?)

In no particular order

Matt, Stewart and friends at Erith & Belvedere	The lads (and lass) at Herne Bay
Scott Cannie celebrates his goal at Cobham	Dan May hits the back of the Mile Oak net
See them all at http://photos-by-kit.fotopic.net