Knaphill Wanderers 2 Guildford Saints 4

After the battering we took last week we were looking for a response from the boys this week. We had already lost Christian, Seb, Martin and Ollie to other commitments and we lost Ben as well on Saturday night to injury so this meant call ups for Blues players George Collett and Tom Oldland to the Saints team and both of them had fine matches.

Only Ross started from our normal back four with the ever dependable Matt and Tom O forming a central partnership with George at right backs. Nathan, Julien, Alex M, Mike D and Joe formed the midfield and Tom R started on his usual role up front. Right from the off we were on the offensive and Tom, Joe and Nathan all had shots at goal. Alex M went close before Tom R opened the scoring judging his run perfectly onto a Matt free kick and slotting home. Knaphill had a good spell midway through the half but Tom O and Matt were extremely resolute and George added pace down the right - Ross was just back to excellent best!! Nathan was doing a great job as the holding midfielder which allowed Mike, Alex, Joe and Julien to raid forward and Tom R was looking very bright up top as we continued to look dangerous from every break - how it was only 1-0 at half time we'll never know!

Right at the start of the second half we upped our passing and it paid huge dividends when neat interchanges between Tom R, Nathan and Joe played Joe in and he very coolly slotted beneath the 'keeper. This signalled a change with George and Joe making way for Connor and Jamie, with Mike slotting in at right back. Almost immediately it paid dividends with Ross sending Tom R away and around the 'keeper he went to put away his second of the match. Saints fourth was really great with neat one touch passes between Jamie, Mike and Tom R setting up Julien who swept it home. What happened then I don’t really know!! Tom R crashed a shot home which was ruled out for a foul, Ross shot with his left when his right would have brought him a goal, Tom R went round the 'keeper again but rolled it wide, a Tom R free kick was tipped over by the 'keeper and even Tom O had one pinched off his toes when scoring would have been easier. After almost total domination it was a disappointment when we failed to clear our lines and a Knaphill forward drilled home. Josh then pulled off a great one handed save but right at the death Knaphill scored a second when we did not get out quick enough and left time and space for a Knaphill player to score.

This was a much better passing display today and a really good defensive display from George, Matt, Tom and Ross - the guys coming back may find their places are not easily given up by those players who had them today. We were certainly quicker to the tackle and must carry this kind of commitment and discipline into the last few games to get any reward.

Man of the Match - Ross Pearn

Guildford Saints Blues 0 Woking & Maybury 4

After last weekend's excellent result, today was really a case of "after the Lord Mayor's Show". A poor performance was rewarded with a truly disappointing result in our last home game at the Varsity this season.

The first half was a coach's nightmare. We were sloppy in possession, slow to the challenge, weak in the tackle and poor in our decision making. As a result we found ourselves exposed in all areas of the pitch...... in particular defence where we were regularly at sixes and sevens as we tried desperately to cope with W&Ms speed of passing and turn of pace. Despite this, we gifted W&M their first goal when Nathan fumbled a basic-looking catch into his own net. Minutes later we had our only real chance of the game when Chris Clement was put through but his shot rebounded off the crossbar. We then suffered a period of intense pressure where our defence was appalling but our goalkeeper outstanding as Nathan redeemed himself with a number of excellent saves when we left their strikers acres of time and space in our area to control the ball and pepper our goal with shots. Shortly before half time a poor clearance from Nathan was completely mis-kicked by Marcus into the path of the W&M striker who slotted home.

Strong words were said at half time - the boys have set their own standards in the last two games and these were sadly lacking today - and at the start of the second half the boys seemed to have responded. However, just when it looked like we were turning the game round, we were again undone by the quick pace of the W&M attackers who exposed gaps in our defence and then finished in style to make it 3-0. To their credit we continued to try and create chances but to little effect. W&M wrapped up the game with a fourth goal that summed up our match. The referee amazingly interpreted a full stretch, last ditch tackle as a deliberate back pass and from the subsequent free kick our wall disintegrated like a pack of cards and a pretty weak shot flew in at the near post. Scandalous refereeing and even more scandalous defending!!

This really was not good enough today. As a coach I am bitterly disappointed - as should the players be. In previous weeks we have shown the qualities in our play but today we were not undone by a better footballing team but we were guilty of carelessness, sloppiness and laziness - qualities that I do not expect to see in any of my teams and certainly not repeated for the remainder of the season. The boys must lift their heads now, put this behind them, learn the lessons and take their recent good form, this game aside, into their next match.

Man of the Match - n/a

Guildford Saints 1 Staines Town 6

They say football is a game of two halves... and this certainly was!! In the first half Saints competed all over the park and had the early chances but it was Staines that took the lead when slack marking at a corner allowed a Staines player to head home unopposed. Saints stormed up field and Tom flashed a shot wide. Joe then had a great run ended when the Staines 'keeper brought him down but Alex M’s penalty kick was saved by the Staines 'keeper. However still we kept plugging away and eventually we equalised when Tom finished a great move with a strong run and shot.

Second half and what a disaster!!!!!. We just shut down and allowed Staines to dominate the play and most of their five goals were caused by set plays that we just did not defend in any shape or form. We allowed players to get the ball under control while showing them the outside instead of making a tackle. When we did have the ball our passing was going astray and not to feet. This was not a display worthy of calling a Saints performance. There were only a handful of players that worked for the cause today. Martin, Josh, Chris, Mike D, Tom, Alex and Joe - the rest were well below the standard expected. How they played as they did in the first half and then put in a performance like that in the second is beyond me!!

It really looks like too many late nights and lack of fitness. Our chances of picking up a reward for this season are fast disappearing and will be non-existent if we carry on like this. We played 4-4-2 because the boys wanted to... maybe I should not have listened and kept our tried and trusted formation!

Man of the Match - Martin Peters

Grayshott 1 Guildford Saints Blues 2

I found myself whistling at work today... something I very rarely do especially on a Monday and even more especially on a Monday after Fulham have lost!!! Why? Well it's because the boys really did me proud on Sunday. I thought that - despite the result - the Blues had looked very good last weekend against Farncombe but this match saw us show not only good shape but also a determination and resolve to compete all over the pitch. In the end we got our just desserts with a deserved victory and the fact that we limited high fliers Grayshott to barely a couple of chances all game makes the massive improvement in our solidity even more pleasing.

Right from the off we were the team with impetus and drive. Alex O and Joe are beginning to form a great partnership in midfield and with Ellis continually dropping off to pick the ball up in space we do look dangerous. Scott worked tirelessly up front as usual but it was Chris Smith who had our first chance with a delightful free kick that hit the top of the bar. Ed was giving Grayshott continual problems down the left as well and it was only a matter of time surely before we scored. In the end it was another Smithy free kick that broke the dead lock. This time the young left back kept the ball below the cross bar and above the flailing 'keepers hands for his first goal for the club much to the joy of his delighted team mates.

Throughout the first half we continued to contain Grayshott's attacks and break quickly and it looked like we were going to take the 1-0 lead into the break. Unfortunately - just like last week - we switched off at the back right on half time with hesitation again between Nathan and his defence allowing Grayshott an equaliser.

In the second half it was more of the same. Scott and Ed switched and again Ed caused them all sorts of problems with his pace. Alex O with first Joe and then Mike P worked tirelessly in midfield to regain possession but the star man was Tom Oldland. His fierce tackling, excellent reading of the game and driving runs to bring the ball out from the back were an inspiration to his team mates especially Marcus & George who both rose to the challenge in the second half too as the defence limited previously free scoring Grayshott to only two or three half chances. The only time Grayshott did break through Nathan pulled off a fantastic save at the feet of their striker.

Just as it looked that a draw was going to be the rather unsatisfactory final result. Ellis stepped forward and grabbed the glory as he cleverly made space for himself before chipping the goalkeeper beautifully to make it 2-1. There was barely time for Grayshott to recover before the final whistle went on one of our best victories of the season.

Very, very pleased with the last two team performances. The team is picking itself at the moment and the players continue to surpass my expectations. Special mentions to Joe B - who I thought had another excellent performance, Chris - whose dead ball work is a massive plus for us and Alex O - who was really on his game today. Well done to everyone though - the whole team is playing well at the moment.

Man of the Match - Tom Oldland

Mayford Athletic Oaks 3 Guildford Saints 2

Saints threw away the points today as they suffered a rare defeat at Mayford. Starting brightly we had the ball in Mayford net early on but had it ruled out for offside. After that we lived a little dangerously at the back where Matt was standing in for Martin and a clearly injured Ben could only struggle through to half time. Both Ollie and Ross were having fine games but we were a little soft through the middle and Ollie managed somehow to smuggle one off the line before Saints took the lead. We actually got the ball on the deck strung some passes together and Tom shifted the ball out of his feet and finished well to put us into a deserved lead. Mayford came back at us and Josh pulled off a stunning save but, other than that, we withstood most of everything Mayford could throw at us in the first half.

Kicking uphill in the second half was always going to be a stretch and Alex M, who had moved in to the back four to replace Ben, was mopping up most stuff but eventually a defensive lapse, after an attack of our own broke down, left a player over on our left and - although Josh got a hand to it - he couldn’t keep the resulting shot out. We continued to go looking for goals and Tom showed brilliant strength to hold off a couple of defenders and slot in to give us the lead again. However, with only ten minutes left we once again let ourselves down by not clearing and Mayford levelled. Then disaster struck as again we were exposed on our left when Mayford had attacked and again had a player over. Ross tried twice to get his body there but everyone else was just watching and Mayford took the lead and the game was over.

We have to rid ourselves of these silly errors. Players must take responsibility to do a job and not just hope that others will do it for them. If you see it, do it! We need to recover quickly and get back to winning ways so that we retain a realistic trophy challenge.

Man of the Match - Tom Richards

Guildford Saints Blues 0 Farncombe Dynamos 2

I'm truly baffled how we lost this game!! For the second time this season we totally dominated Farncombe and for the second time this season we failed to take our chances and as a result have a net total of one point from a possible six!!

Credit to our opponents they are a very organised side and play with good commitment but today we really played well all over the pitch and I'm sure that the boys share my disappointment at the final result. Throughout the first half we were the team driving forward. Ellis & Ed both had opportunities and Scott was looking very lively up front but either our finishing was poor or their 'keeper made some good saves. Just before half time we conceded a soft free kick and when the ball was played between Nathan and our defenders there was visible hesitation and a Farncombe player reacted quickest to toe poke the ball home.

We changed a number of personnel for the second half but still we were the more attacking side and looked most likely to score. Again Ed had opportunities as did Mike B but we just couldn't score. Midway through the half Farncombe scored their second - an unstoppable shot from the right hand corner of the penalty area that Nathan had no chance with.

The re-introduction of Ellis late in the game resulted in a prolonged spell of pressure on the Farncombe goal with Mike B, Ellis & Jack combining particularly well on the right hand side but it just wasn't to be our day!

As you can probably gather I was pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result. I think that this probably puts pay to our title chances but we can still have a big say in the destination of the trophy with games against Grayshott and Claygate still to come. If we play with the same shape and attitude results will come and I was happy with the boys application this morning. Special mention for good individual displays from Chris Smith, Chris Clement, Joe Barras, George Collet and Jack Craig who all put in improved performances today.

Man of the Match - Ellis Wilcox

Leatherhead Predators 0 Guildford Saints 0

A cold morning ... and a hot start from Leatherhead but Saints coped well with Ross, Chris, Ben and Martin all standing up strongly and Josh not really having a shot worthy of note to save - mind you we didn't really trouble their 'keeper either!! The game was being fought in midfield and it was there that we failed to compete and , as a result, we failed to get play going or create any chances.

The second half was much better and we started to take the game to Leatherhead more. We hit the bar through a Martin header, Ross should have done better when trying to chip the 'keeper, Tom had a shot well saved by the keeper from a yard out and Mike had a header cleared off the line. Other than that not much else to report from this game. Leatherhead are a far stronger team than their league position suggests but we should have won this one based upon possession and the chances that we eventually had.

Men of the Match - Ross Pearn & Martin Peters