Tuesday, 11th October 2022
Redhill were obviously delighted to have Interim Manager Antonio Simeone back in the centre of defence for Tuesday night's Surrey Senior Cup Preliminary Round tie against Guildford City at the Brow, the Reds' skipper having been out of action for six weeks following his injury at Horley.
Guildford were 16 places below Redhill in the Premier South and the home side tore into them from the start. Carl Oblitey, imperiously leading the line, could have had a hat-trick in the first five minutes. Guildford 'keeper Craig Smith leapt to push his first effort round a post, his second from the resulting corner hit a defender on the line but he wouldn't be denied as he nodded the Lobsters in front from an inch-perfect cross from the left.
The pressure on the visitors' goal was relentless as Amine Sassi's curling left-footer was turned round by Smith, a Max Oldham blast thudded against the bar, Jason Kaate's "goal" was mysteriously disallowed, a Yahaya Kamara piledriver was hacked off the line and Oblitey's shot hit the inside of one post and then nearly rolled against the other. This was Redhill at their rampant best but somehow it was still only 1-0 at the break.
Guildford had more possession in the second half and alert home 'keeper Tom Theobold had to rush out to make a couple of timely clearances. But the gaps started to appear again in Guildford's defence and the Lobsters sealed the win with two goals in the last ten minutes, Oldham fizzing a shot just under the bar and Oblitey sliding in the third after teenager Freddie Taylor had put him through.
The Lobsters now travel to Chipstead in the next round of a competition that they last won in 1966.
Vines BMW Man of the Match: Carl Oblitey