League Champions

Guildford had two big games on the schedule again this weekend, with the SMSA Sandra Duncan Cup semi-final on Saturday and a League Game on Sunday that, with a win, could wrap up the League title for A.C.

Saturday morning A.C. was pitted against the SFC Panthers for the third time this season. Guildford has had the Panthers' number this year already having beat them 6-0 in the league and 4-0 in the Conference Cup semi-final. The game opened well for A.C. as they found lots of opportunities to build forward resulting in good shots and crosses into the box. The opening goal came at the fifteen minute mark when a Guildford full-back jumped up on the weak side and got on the end of good cross and promptly hammered it top corner for the 1-0 lead.

Shortly after, the Panthers keeper just couldn't quite mop up a through ball and the deflection from the collision landed at the feet of another A.C. striker who was able to sneak an off-balance shot into the goal for a 2-0.

In the second half, Guildford continued to pressure the Panthers and made it very difficult for SFC to mount any offensive attacks. Late in the half, a Guildford player got around the corner and was able to dribble in onto goal and slotted his shot well to take a 3-0 lead, which would become the final score.

On Sunday, A.C.'s second to last league game was against the reigning League Champions of the age group. With a win, Guildford would be five points clear of the second place SFC Scorpions with only one game remaining. So, the opportunity to claim the 08/09 league title against the reigning champs was there for A.C.

Guildford played a very organized game right from the opening kick-off. A.C. got several chances early on by attacking aggressively into the box. The Red Devils opportunities were kept to the perimeter where they were handled easily by Guildford's keeper. Inside ten minutes, A.C. struck the opening blow when their striker got in on a bad angle but hit a blistering shot low to the far post that beat the SFC keeper. The score would remain tight right into the half. 1-0 Guildford at the half.

In the second frame, A.C. continued its relentless attack and the Red Devils began to falter. Guildford stretched their lead on a half-break that was easily finished for a 2-0 lead. A.C. put the game out of reach on two spectacular goals. Both came off of great crosses: the first was found a crashing striker who redirected the ball into the net; the second cross was cut back to the top of the box and the one time shot was impossibly placed for the keeper into the top left corner. Final score 4-0.

At the final whistle, Guildford A.C. were officially the 2008/2009 League Champions completing the first part of the treble. Up next is the SMSA Sandra Duncan Cup where A.C. will take on the Surrey United '97 Selects in the final next weekend.

Congratulations A.C. '97s on your first League Championship.