Nottingham saw off Guildford 6:3 in the Call Cup on Sunday, overturning expectations with a performance that left the hosts reeling. We had backed the home side at 52 per cent confidence, but the match went another way entirely. By then, the visitors had already carved them open early and never looked back.
Guildford came into this knowing they had beaten Nottingham 4:1 just a week ago, but that result felt like a blip against what followed. The home side started with energy, but Nottingham felt the pressure and changed the shape. Things came to a head when the away side turned the game on its head.
Both teams sit level on points after five games — two wins, three losses, nothing between them in the standings. That is a season in its infancy, and the table says little yet. What matters is the run this ends for Guildford, who had won three of their last four before this collapse.
Nottingham's away form has been up and down, but this result breaks a pattern. They had lost to Sheffield 2:3 and Cardiff 3:5, then picked up a win against Manchester 5:1. To be fair, consistency has been elusive, but Sunday's performance felt different.
The three-goal margin tells only part of the story. Guildford were caught in possession at crucial moments, and the heat took the sting out of their attacking intent. Nottingham were left exposed at times themselves, but they dug in when it mattered most.
For the home side, this is a setback after their recent momentum. They had beaten Cardiff 5:1, Sheffield 7:4, Manchester 3:4, and Glasgow 4:3 in their last five. One loss does not define a season, but six goals conceded at home will not be forgotten.
