17/09/2026
Godalming 3 Alton 0 (1-0) – Combined Counties Premier League South
We got that elusive win at last, and didn’t it just lift the spirits at what had been a somewhat sombre Wey Court before the kick-off. You don’t have to be a genius to know things have not clicked this season but a solid 90 minutes producing three goals and three points showed things are on the up.
A quite different line up took to the park in the aftermath of the chastening performance in the FA Vase on Saturday. As publicised on Facebook by the man himself, Adrian Giles started in goal, Stephen Douglas being away for his graduation day. Gilesy last played for the Gees in March 2022 and, as he has reminded us, he has even scored a goal since then. Viewing the warmup from up top, pitch side, Jonny Miller looked to be going through the paces at left back and so it proved as we kicked off. Nana Afful was at right back, and alongside Elliot Creeley in the centre of defence was a new face and a welcome to Marcus Travers. Captain Cam Edwin and Jav Waugh took centre midfield joined by Deji Alabi, Mark Soares and Nathan Best supporting Ronnie Reeves up front. Mark notably starting on the left. Four of the five substitutes were Conor Stillwell, Evan Kelly, Shane Johnson and Mo El Azouan, the fifth was another newbie and a welcome to Coby Acquaye from Horley Town.
More pre match news: Former Gee’s centre half Ben Matthews is now at Alton. I’m sure he didn’t expect to be starting in goal for the visitors after their keeper failed a fitness test. Oh, and the Referee was being assessed, so that was only the four yellow cards and one for the bench for Godalming then.
The mojo seemed to be back after Saturday as the Gees put together a solid opening spell. Deji Alabi cut in from the right and played in Ronnie Reeves, only to see the flag go up for offside. Nathan Best picked up a through ball and made his way to the goal line, but his cross was booted away. Cam set up Mark Soares who shot across the face of the goal and in the 8th minute a long ball from Mark found Nathan who took two touches and lashed it into the net for the opening goal, a quality finish. 1-0 and from this point it’s been going to pot this season and now has been the time Godalming retreat 30-40 yards and wait for the equaliser and whatever other disaster follows. Not this time though, and Marcus Travers was in part responsible by shouting the odds from the back row and even calling a few players ‘son’. Whether it’s a sign of his seniority age-wise, or that he hasn’t had enough time to know them all by name I care not, but the message seemed to get across.
Alton won a corner on 12 minutes which was cleared, the returning shot going well over the bar. Deji slotted a ball through to Mark who was flattened before he could reach the ball, play on was the decision. Ronnie delivered a cross to Nathan, which a defender intercepted and headed back to the keeper and the move was repeated by the pair shortly after, this time the cross was cleared. Around the half hour point it was noticeable that Mark and Nathan had swapped over positions left and right. Mark picked up a pass and turned to get a shot in on goal which a defender managed to divert away. Alton applied some pressure in the closing ten minutes of the half and Adrian was called on to punch first a corner and then a free kick away. Cam received the first card of the game more for kicking the ball away than for the challenge that preceded it and the Gees safely saw out the remainder of the half to go in with their 1-0 lead intact.
No changes for the second half and none needed after, dare I say it, a comfortable 45 minutes. Alton started the half more positively with another former Gee, Manny Acheampong delivering an early shot high and wide. It was though, aside from a brace of later corners and a free kick, a rare chance for them. Godalming’s lead doubled on 53 minutes when Cam won the Gees a corner which was taken on the right by Mark. The ball came over on the near post and was cleared straight upwards. When the ball returned earthwards to the waiting throng of players underneath it was Marcus Travers who got the touch to direct it into the net. Cue Alton’s claim for a foul on the keeper which was promptly turned down by the officials. Nathan Best saw a shot go wide of the post and in the next move was brought down in the process of picking up a long ball from Gilesy. Mark hit the free kick narrowly past both post and crossbar. Mark then picked up a ball from Cam and with the visiting defence at sixes and sevens two attempts on goal were somehow cleared. 63 minutes on the clock and Coby Acquaye came on to take Ronnie Reeves’ place leading the line. He was unlucky not to make his mark immediately as Ben Matthews stopped his goal-bound header when Adrian went route one via Mark Soares.
The Gees fell foul of these new rules on substitutions in the 72nd minute. Because Jay Waugh was adjudged to have been too slow coming off for Conor Stillwell, Conor was made to wait on the naughty step for one (long) minute while we went down to 10 men. Jonny ‘Versatile’ Miller saw yellow for a bit of a cuddle on an Alton forward and shortly after came off to be replaced by Evan Kelly. On 83 minutes Shane Johnson came on for Nathan Best, Nathan had been lively throughout the game. Coby straightaway made an impact when he and Cam set up Shane, who put the ball in the net but was flagged offside. Two more cards came out for Marcus and Elliot in a ‘not that sort of game’ game.
There was only going to be one winner and that was confirmed in injury time when Coby belted home the third for the Gees after Mark’s similar effort had been blocked. Mo El Azouan came on for Deji, and Coby was provider again to Shane who should have scored the fourth. Nana got in on the act with belter over the bar and the Ref decided he had seen enough. 3-0 Gees.
What an improvement, especially in attitude and fight, with the debutants both getting on the scoresheet. They’ve whetted our appetites now, let’s have the same again on Saturday when it’s away to Redhill, 3pm kick off.
COYG’s
