Tooting and Mitcham United 2 Guildford City 1
FA Vase - 09/09/2025
Report by: Ed Parlett
Match Report
Guildford City’s second visit to Imperial Fields within the space of ten days went much the same way as their first, as the Terrors replicated their previous league victory to progress in the FA Vase after an entertaining Friday night fixture under the lights. The only difference this time was the margin of victory, with 2-1 being the magic numbers here after the 3-1 success in our earlier meeting.
Once again, Guildford gave a good account of themselves, and once again they didin’t look like a side who were being increasingly cut adrift at the rock-bottom of the southern section of the Combined Counties Premier Division; but the facts don’t lie, and they are where they are for a reason. Because – at the end of the day – they keep losing football matches, and that’s what transpired again on this balmy evening. From Tooting’s point of view, Guidlford were exactly the sort of opposition we might have chosen to restore some confidence after the rather humbling reverse handed out by near-neighbours Sutton Common Rovers on this very turf just six days before.
The Terrors showed no signs of scars hanging over them from that outing, making all the running early on and forcing visiting keeper Marvin Wood into a couple of decent saves to keep the scoresheet blank. But the deadlock was almost broken at the other end, when Manny Acheampong’s firmly struck shot from long-range came back off the foot of the post, then Kai Zini’s header from much closer in went only narrowly wide. There was still only ten minutes gone at this point, but it seemed a goal wasn’t far away. It came a couple of minutes later, after a move started right at the back by home keeper Toby McKimm; his long clearance into space left a couple of defenders looking like department store mannequins as the ball sailed over their heads and fell perfectly for Alex Cruickshank to thump the ball confidently past Wood.
Just three more minutes had elapsed before it got even better for Tooting; Jaiden Chang made 24 appearances for the Terrors during the ill-fated 2022/23 season, without getting on the scoresheet in a black and white (or even lavender) shirt, but he put the hosts two to the good here when he headed home under pressure in the Guildford penalty area. Unfortunately for Jaiden, he was representing the team wearing yellow and blue on this evening, and the keeper he’d scored past was his own custodian. Oops. I guess that could be construed as ‘friendly fire’ – of sorts…
Guildford could have been excused had their heads dropped at this point, but they kept their pride and continued to try and make something happen. They got their reward thirteen minutes before the break, when a long throw was headed on, and visiting striker Deven Reid-Solanki – who learnt his trade as an Academy player in these parts – fired home a fine drive to haul the visitors back into the cup-tie.
The second-half promised much, with the visitors finally having something to build on. In truth, it became a scrappy affair post-oranges, with little on the horizon to suggest there was suddenly about to be a dramatic turnaround which might prolong Guildford’s interest in the competition. Chances from both sides were fewer and further between now, with long shots from Zini and Robbie Mundow both sailing well wide for the Sweeney, whilst a similar effort from Shay Brennan experienced the same fate. With twenty minutes left, City fluffed their lines when Reid-Solanki’s clever pass put Sam Harper through on goal, but the substitute – just back from injury – could get no power or accuracy in his shot and Toby McKimm made a decent but comfortable save to keep the lead intact. Harper had another chance shortly after with a header but could do no better with it, while Shay Brennan might have wrapped things up late on when his drive from a tight angle flashed across the goal but dropped wide. Nevertheless, it was Tooting who took their place in the hat, and Guildford who headed south hoping for a change of fortune in the weeks ahead.