This was another massive game against JB Rangers, with the Albion only 1 point off top of the league and JB Rangers only 1 point further adrift of us we needed to win today big time.

Once again the squad was very strong and with some players out injured and some returning from injury Stu made various changes to the starting 11 but we were confident that it was a team capable of bringing home all 3 points. Before the game we concentrated on being solid in defence and midfield as we knew that JB's strength was going forward so if we could keep a clean sheet we were confident of scoring at some point in the game.

We started really well, the attitude and desire to be first to every ball was brilliant from every single Albion player on the pitch and we were by far the stronger team for the first 20 minutes. We created numerous chances, most of which came from Paul and Valdini on the wings and we were unlucky not to go ahead with a header at the near post from Paul amongst other chances.

It was a fiercely competitive game with both teams knowing how important the result was, so there were unsurprisingly quite a few strong tackles and the inevitable trash talk both on and off the ball. The game was spoilt a little both by this and also the ref's insistence to spend a long time talking to players about their crimes and language which made the game very stop start and both teams struggled to find any rhythm. The ref continued to be the busiest bloke on the pitch for the rest of the half and eventually got his cards out for the JB skipper, to be honest it could have been any of the 22 on the pitch that were first to be booked as the game continued to be played at full throttle.

There was not much more of note to report as the ref blew his whistle for half time. The half time talk was made really easy for Stu as everyone was playing superbly and doing exactly what had been asked of them prior to kick off, we knew that if we carried on in the same vain and we kept it tight we would get the result we deserved.

The second half started much the same as the first with challenges flying in and some girly fisticuff outbreaks but neither side were creating chances of note, the disappointment in the half was the number of needless fouls we gave away in our own half which put huge amounts of pressure on the defence and eventually Darren got booked as he was clearly not the ref's favourite this week.

Unfortunately we conceded one too many free kicks and with an hour on the clock JB punished us with a headed goal, I'm not sure who lost their man in the crowded 6 yard box but from where I was the striker looked to rise virtually unchallenged 0-1.

Now it was time for us to really dig deep, we had created chances but not really tested the keeper and with all of the team numerous warnings away from being next in the book we had to keep our heads and push forward. We now focused on the wings again and Paul and Val were getting plenty of action on both sides which was creating more and more space for the midfield 3 to get time on the ball and dictate the play. With 20 minutes to go the hard work paid off and Stu was put clean through after a slip by the JB defender, but with only the keeper to beat and half an hour to decide how to finish it he slid it wide and it would have been easy for us all to think our chance had gone and make it game over.

This was the game turner and the Albion stepped into a gear that we have not yet found this season and pushed really hard for the equaliser, we were also getting chances from the long hoof of Tom which JB just couldn't defend so Tom just kept on hoofing it!

It was from one of Tom's hoofs with 10 minutes to go that we finally got the equaliser we deserved as his hoof sailed over the defender for Stu to nip in and lob the ball over the onrushing keeper, this HAD to go in to make up for his earlier miss 1-1.

Now we were in the driving seat and we looked the team more likely to push on and win but we continued to give away countless free kicks and invite pressure upon ourselves but with good concentration and passion we stood firm.

With 5 minutes to go another hoof from Tom won us a throw in by the right corner flag, we smelt blood and pushed forward looking for the winner. Paul put a great throw into the 6 yard box over Sam and the 2 big defenders marking him where Stu got his head to it only to see it hit the crossbar, but as he has done so many times already this season Darren followed it up and bundled the rebound over the line 2-1.

All we had to now was stay solid and see the last 5 minutes out, this left plenty of time for us to concede another 3 free kicks within shooting distance but JB could not make them count and the ref finally blew for full time.

This was a monumental performance from the whole squad and I cannot say a bad word about anything in the game, if we perform like this every week we will win the league!

I wanted to give man of the match to everyone today but the website won't let me so I picked Valdini as I thought he really worked hard up and down the right side and put in some really great challenges in the first 20 minutes which set the tone for the whole team. But as I said, if I could I would have given it to everyone today as everyone was outstanding. And as I write this report the results have come in and we are now....

TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's now in our hands, let's play with the same passion as today every week.

Guildford Albion FC

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff