Godalming 1 Redhill 0
It may have been 1-0 at the final whistle, but it was a second win against Redhill this season and for me underlined what progress has been made since Gav and Jon took over the reins at Wey Court.
We talk about important matches and of course all of them are important. But after that tremendous win at Epsom and Ewell we needed to know how good the current squad really is against stronger opposition.
The game at Horley showed those of us who travelled that we really do have a competitive squad now, even when we play teams near the top of the table, but we cannot always rely on all of them being available.
So, the Gees entered the game without the impressive Aaron Parfitt and a string of other players who were not available or injured including Rory Sellick and Piers Oldland. There was a bit of good news however that Ben Cotton was again named on the bench after a long period out with a foot injury.
Dimitrios Kyriatkis was in goal, Josh Kempton at right back, Steve Bettancourt and Alex Rodrigues the centre back pairing and Josh Pound, who is looking more and more impressive, at left back. Eugene Bongo chosen to play in front of the back four (no doubt to give Jon a break), Lee Boon, Robert Webbe, in midfield with Bobby Bennett playing wide on one wing with Tom Biss on the other and Hakim Griffiths in the centre. Ben Cotton, Estoban Salgado, Gabriel Oliviera, Jon Palmer and Tom Webb on the bench.
The first half was pretty competitive with the visitors ahead on possession and shots on target although there was not too much to worry the Gees keeper, but the Gees probably had the two best chances of the half, but neither side were able to find the net.
The home side seemed a bit slow to get into the game at the start of the second half playing towards the road end and came under pressure for a while, but at about fifteen minutes in to the second half the Gees won two corners in a row. Robert Webbe played it short with a 1-2 to with Bobby Bennett, but frustratingly seemed to lose possession. But to his credit Webbe won it straight back and played a diagonal short ball through the crowd of defenders for Lee Boon to latch on to and put a good shot into the net, to the relief of the home crowd.
This seemed to inspire the whole Gees squad, as within moments Tom Biss hit a speculative lob towards goal from wide on the right, having spotted the visiting keeper well off his goal line. It rattled the crossbar and bounced clear.
The Gees won another corner and the visiting keeper failed to hold it with the ball falling to Bobby Bennett with his back to the goal. Unfortunately, he could only hook the ball over the bar. For me Bobby had another great game and he deserved a goal.
The Gees were dominating play at this stage and the hard-working Hakim Griffiths worked the ball through to Tom Biss, finding himself one-on-one with the Redhill keeper, who bravely saved with his legs.
15 minutes from the end saw Ben Cotton make his appearance with typical energy, giving Hakim a chance of a breather, while Estoban came on for Bobby Bennett.
There was defending to do and the Gees defence coped with it all so well. But credit to the visitors they never gave in and continued to press until the end.
The gap to the teams above has now been halved so, while that is great, there is much more to do.
More signings have been made so watch this space.
COYG’s
Michaels stats:-
Gees Redhill
attempts 11 16
on target 5 (1W/Work) 10 (2 w/work)
corners 5 11
fouls 8 11 (1o/s)
poss 1 40% 60%
poss 2 51% 49%
yellows 2 1
Bovril status - 3 point bovril always tastes meatier... undiluted by tears of disappointment
