GCBFC Under 16's 2008/09 Match Reports

City won their 4^th trophy in as many years as they swept aside their opponents at Ash United's ground.

Crisp passing and movement off the ball was the undoing of Woking.

Two 1^st half goals from Jack Hardy and a great finish from Aaron Smith made it 3-0 at half time, Matty Lunn making 3 or 4 super saves in goal keeping his side on top, 2^nd hald saw Hardy grab his hat-trick (MoM).

With Ben Pilgrim slotting past the keeper after a 1 on 1, solid performances from George Reeves in midfield and Chi Okorie at right-back sealed victory. Captain Aaron Phillips collected the trophy with Jack Summerfieldwho has been out all season due to illness, well done lads.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 8th March 2009 Fixture : SPL League Cup Semi Final Result : Whitton Town 0 - 2 Guildford City U16 Youth

Guildford City only played Whitton in the league last week and were beat 2 - 1, so it was time to stand up and be counted in this semi final, and stand up they did. It was their finest hour to date this season, Manager Paul Phillips say's the lads were up for this one and the way they applied themselves is a credit not only for Guildford City Boys FC but for themselves.

All 13 players played their hearts out, keeping the ball well, passing the ball well, defending well, and looking awesome in going forward. George Reeves and Sam Howard pairing up in the centre of midfield were solid, Kameron Emmings having a brilliant run of form was in charge at the back, Azza Phillips and Chi Okorie using the width well, it was Azza (smudge) Smith who opened the scoring picking the ball up on the right hand side 20yds out and smashing past the keeper with his left foot.

2^nd half City put more pressure on their opponents and Ben Pilgrim doubled the lead stabbing the ball low down to the keeper's left. Steafan Cambell came close after striking the post with a super free kick; Pilgrim, Campbell and Phillips all came close to killing off their opponents, but enough had been done. Keeper Matty Lunn made one brilliant save in the 2nd half, unaware the flag was up.

Other players with solid performance's: Elliott Blackburn; Ryan Griffin; Richard O'Brien and Jack Hardy (came off with back injury).

Guildford City now play Woking Cougars in the Final on 26/04/09 (Venue to be advised).

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 1st February 2009 Fixture : Friendly - Surrey Youth Prem North vs Surrey Primary Prem Result : Farncombe Youth 4 - 3 Guildford City Youth

City visited a Premiership North team from the S.Y.L for a friendly.

City minus their keeper produced a gritty, determined and at times brilliant performance which saw some fantastic performance's from George Reeves, Kameron Emmings, Richard O'Brien, and Ben Pilgrim, that's just 4 names but credit to all players on this bitterly cold morning.

Goals from Ben Pilgrim (free kick), Aaron Smith and Matty Hilton saw city push this quality Farncombe side all the way and it was only the post that denied George Reeves what would have been an equaliser, Ryan Griffin normally city's right back played in goal and looked a natural.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 31st January 2009 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : Goldsworth Park Rangers 1 - 3 Guildford City Youth

Guildford City put in a good display to win all 3 points away against a G.P.R team that are hard to break down. Their were some good individual performances but it was the overall team performance that was pleasing on the eye.

Aaron (smudge) Smith was at his best and he broke down the right hand side and smashed it past the keeper from 20yds out.

1-0 at half time, G.P.R pass the ball about well and City had to work hard to score their second, Chi Okorie done some great work down the right hand side and produced a quality cross for Stefan Campbell to head home. The home team scrambled a goal back after a corner, then came a piece of quality individual skill from Aaron Smith taking on and beating 4 defenders and then the keeper.

City are becoming a hard team to beat these days and are creeping up the table.

Squad: M. Lunn; J. Hardy; R.Griffin; S.Howard; R.O'Brien; A.Phillips; S.Campbell; G.Reeves; K.Emmings; A.Smith; B.Pilgrim; C.Okorie; M.Hilton; E.Blackburn

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 23rd November 2008 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : Byfleet village 0 - 3 Guildford City U16 Youth

Despite dreadful weather conditions, City probably played their best football of their season to date.

It was their passing and off the ball movement that impressed manager Paul Phillips the most, since being promoted to the Prem his team are slowly finding their feet and this result against a decent Byfleet team proves that.

City were 1-0 up at the break thanks to an Aaron Smith strike 20 yards out. Second half saw new signing Matty Hilton score his 1st goal for his new team with some good work down the right by impressive Chi Okorie, and Okorie was through on goal himself when he was brought down inside the box to win his side a pen, City's penalty taker is keeper Matty Lunn who calmly converted to seal the victory.

Another good performance by Jack Hardy and workman like performances from Sam Howard, Aaron Phillips and George Reeves.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 16th November 2008 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : Guildford City U16 Youth 0 - 0 Goldsworth Park Rangers

City were unlucky not to take all 3 points as they had most of the play, and by far the best chances.

The best chance of the 1st half came from Elliott Blackburn with a diving header after a quality ball from Kammeron Emmings. Guildford's passing was much improved from previous weeks, and the 2nd half saw a piece of magic from Aaron Smith taking on 3 players to be denied by the keeper.

Captain Aaron Phillips almost won it late on after he slid the ball past the keeper after Jack Hardy played a quality through ball, but a G.P.R defender saved his team. Solid performances from keeper Matty Lunn, Jack Hardy and Aaron Smith.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 9th November 2008 Fixture : Surrey County Cup Result : Guildford City 4 - 0 Old Coulsdon Colts

Guildford fired themselves into the 3rd round of the county cup with this long awaited solid performance.

After back to back defeats in the league this team had lost confidence in themselves, but this was a performance to install that confidence from previous weeks, using the width well, covering, supporting, and defending well as a unit was enough to see off their opponents.

Manager Paul Phillips used a few new partnerships which included the centre back pairing of Sam Howard and Aaron Smith who looked solid as did the centre midfield pairing of Kammeron Emmings and Aaron Phillips. It was Ben Pilgrim who made the 1st with a great ball through to Steafan Campbell who slotted home to make it 1-0 at half time.

2nd half saw much of the same with 3 more goals, Chi Okorie whipping in a ball from the left for Elliott Blackburn to head home, then it was over to super sub Richard (DES) O'Brien, normally plays at centre back but having been unwell came on as striker to bag a brace and looked like a natural.

Team: Matty Lunn, Ryan Griffin, Jack Hardy, Sam Howard, Aaron Smith, Elliott Blackburn, George Reeves, Aaron Phillips (Capt), Kammeron Emmings, Ben Pilgrim, Steafan Campbell. subs: Chi Okorie, Richard O'Brien.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 19th October 2008 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : Guildford City 1 - 1 St Francis

For the second week in a row city had to come from behind to claim a hard earned point, and also for the second week in row they gifted their opponents a goal to take the lead.

Guildford knew they had to work hard as they only had bear 11, to face in-form St Francis. Lack of discipline lead to St Francis taking the lead with an off the ball incident giving the away team a free kick 20 yards out, centre of goal, the away team taking the lead from the kick sending it to the right of keeper Matty Lunn.

City went with a slightly more attacking formation after conceding the goal, and were looking to get back on terms, Kammeron Emmings took a free kick from around 35 yds out and delivered a perfect ball for Captain Azza Phillips to head home, city looked more likely to go on and win it and almost did when right back Ryan Griffin hit a shot from fully 30yds out, with the ball dipping the keeper had to scramble back and tip over for a corner. So for the second game in a row it finished 1-1.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 12th October 2008 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : Whitton Town 1 - 1 Guildford City

Guildford city U16 gifted their opponents a goal midway through the first half, a mix up between the defence and keeper gave the home team a 1 - 0 lead. City started playing some good football after that with Aaron Phillips going close from a cross from Ben Pilgrim, then Sam Howard played a good ball through to Ben Pilgrim who struck it past the on-coming keeper.

1 - 1 at half time, second half saw both teams cancelling each other out, and a 1 - 1 draw was a fair result.

Manager Paul Phillips was impressed with a couple of his players; Steafan Campbell and Aaron Smith in particular giving their all.

Pitchside: Paul Philips

Date : 28th September 2008 Fixture : Surrey Primary League Premier Div Result : St Francis 1 - 3 Guildford City

Guildford City U16, despite not playing their best, they were too strong for St Francis. City had most of the play in the 1^st half without creating too many chances until Ben Pilgrim found himself 1 on 1 with the Keeper. 1 - 0 City at Half time.

Guildford looked slightly better in the 2^nd half, but it was the home team who equalised, but Aaron Smith and a diving header from Sam Howard proved too much for St Francis and City were comfortable winners in the end.

All at Guildford City would like to wish Jack Summerfield well and hope he gets better soon.

Pitchside: Paul Philips