Guildford Rolls on in Unspectacular Fashion

Matteo Bordignon jumps on a misplayed ball and buries it to open the scoring. Jeevin Kang fights the crowd to smash one through the keeper. A.C. won the contest 3-0.

Guildford A.C. was scheduled to host their league game with the Langley United Gladiators this weekend, but, with all of Guildford's grass fields still buried in snow the game was doomed to be cancelled. Both teams however were keen to play and Langley was unable to provide an alternate 8v8 pitch but did have an 11 aside field available. So, Guildford supplied some portable goals and a referee and the teams worked together to mark out an 8v8 pitch and a beautiful, sunny, Saturday morning did not go to waste and the game was played.

Guildford was limited to one sub with a couple of players away and consequently tried to play a bit of a conservative game. In the first 15 minutes, A.C. was able to spread the field out and string together multiple passes but could not generate anything remotely dangerous. Langley remained very organized and would not allow themselves to be broken down but struggled to get any shots on A.C.'s keeper.

As the first half wore on Guildford tried to press a bit more but as a group could not get the timing or direction of their movements right; the result was a completely inept attack. Rather than fighting to get it right A.C. switched formation and saw success almost immediately. Late in the half Guildford drifted multiple opportunities just wide but were starting to see scoring chances. Score at the half 0-0.

A.C. had not been even or down a goal going into half time since September and the situation was a learning opportunity for Guildford. A.C. came out in the second half with an aggressiveness necessary to find a way to win but did not show any kind of panic, even as Langley was able to hold off Guildford early in the second frame. The go ahead goal finally came at the ten minute mark. It was nothing of the spectacular variety, but as A.C. pressed, Langley finally made a mistake moving the ball through the back and Guildford picked up a misplayed ball and put it in for a 1-0 lead.

On a corner kick, Guildford stretched the lead to 2-0. Again not a spectacular goal but a workmanlike effort in the box to dig the ball free in the crowd and smash the ball through a valiant effort by the Gladiators keeper. The final goal was a nice bit of work as the ball was played into the striker who slipped his defender in a 1v1 and finished the breakaway for a 3-0 lead and win.

Despite not playing a quality game and Langley being decidedly difficult to break down, A.C. responded very well to the situation. The team was confident and composed in a tight match and used their tactics and abilities to win. Next week, A.C. faces the Peace Arch United 97's who have been playing well since the holiday.