The team was setup in a 4 4 1 1 formation chosen mainly because of the available personnel, although I’m sure the staff are deserving of some credit for deploying their resources as they did.

Things couldn’t have started much worse, when just three minutes in a wayward pass that was intercepted saw Fisher make his first save of the match, only to be beaten from the resulting corner as a result of some slack marking.

We nearly drew level almost immediately, when Burns and Smith combined well only for Smith’s shot to be saved.

There was certainly a lot of encouragement going forward as some of our approach play was good and time and again we strung a succession of passes together only to be denied at the last.

Mid way though the half we fell further behind, when another misplaced pass saw Jaydon Gibbs brother of Arsenals Kieran Gibbs, race clear to drive home from the edge of the box.

If a quick response was needed that’s what we got.
A move involving Cole-Bolt, Graca, Burns, and Smith, saw Smith coolly slot home to reduce the deficit.

With our confidence growing there was an air of frustration amongst the Guildford team, and when Todd scampered away down the right on Thirty Eight minutes only to be upended in the box their temperament was questioned again.

Todd brushed himself down and converted to bring us back level, completing the most unlikely of comebacks.

Whilst Fisher was subjected to training drill goal keeping practice, such was the number of shots that were fired in at our goal from the edge of the box, we hadn’t really been troubled since going two behind and just as thoughts turned to half time our comeback just got better.

Another shot at goal that looked like giving us the lead rebounded from the goalkeeper and as the chance seemed to have gone, Cole-Bolt following up side footed into the empty net to give us the lead.

As expected the second half was frantic with Fishers goal again coming under threat, but the back line of Webber, Puckett, West and Holley stayed strong and gradually Guildford seemed devoid of ideas.

As we began to enjoy more possession and with Guildford taking more risks than usual to get back into the game opportunities were beginning to come our way, none more so than when Smith nearly set Todd free. That proved to be Todd’s last involvement as a niggling injury saw him withdrawn and replaced by Jimmy Brazil.

His introduction seemed to bring some energy to our side, and shortly after he came on his persistent work down the right saw him slide a perfect pass to Robbie Burns who was upended in the box for our second penalty of the game. With Todd off the pitch there was confusion as to who would assume the responsibility, and when the dust had finally settled it was left to vice captain Andrew Heath.

Unfortunately his penalty was too close to the Guildford keeper and he pulled off a save to deny us what probably would have been the match-winning goal. Having had a reprieve we came under increasing pressure, and to compound Heaths misery he then conceded a soft penalty which was converted to bring the scores level at three three.

With just fifteen minutes left the game was well and truly in the balance and to be fair Guildford seemed the more likely winners at this point. With the game entering its final ten minutes Burns sustained another knock on his troublesome knee and was replaced by Adam Welch.

His first involvement was to be a major talking point in the game, as under an aerial challenge involving the Guildford Captain the referee not only awarded a foul in our favour but also issued a second yellow thereby condemning the Guildford man to an early bath.

With a man advantage we again assumed a degree of control, and as the ninety minutes were up and we began stoppage time we were looking to retain possession to take home a well-earned point.

A further late change saw Charlie West replaced due to a hamstring injury by Johnson Oymelukwe, and with a number of players decidedly battle weary we were looking for the final whistle.

Having done well to earn a late corner and with instruction coming from the side line to play it short, Cole –Bolt fed Graca who decided against keeping the ball in the corner favouring an attempt on goal. His shot through a crowded penalty area saw the keeper fumble for Adam Welch to hit home to give us a late late lead.

If we were thinking that would be the last action on the day we were wrong. A full eight minutes stoppage time was played meaning six were actually left after we had taken the lead. Thankfully we held on to record a well earned and deserved victory.

Usually that would be that but not so today.

Whilst it would be wrong to over elaborate on the events that followed on our website, it must be mentioned that at the final whistle the referee was assaulted by the Guildford Captain and recipient of the earlier red card, and that since Saturday the club has received direct thanks from the official involved for the concern shown and help given by the players, management and officials of Chessington & Hook United.