| STEYNING TOWN | 1 | – | 2 | GUERNSEY |
| Bridgman 39′ | Fazakerley 1′ du Port (pen) 45+1′ |
Guernsey ended a second unbeaten start to the season in the space of four days as they held on for an excellent win at Steyning Town on Tuesday night.
In what will likely be one of the Green Lions’ toughest outings this season, Tony Vance’s side scored right at the beginning and end of the first half, sandwiching a leveller from Stan Bridgman, and defended strongly in the second half while remaining a threat in attack.
The evening also saw two debutants – Alex Rihoy and Tyrese Kelly. The latter’s late introduction followed older brother Jordan’s first half entry off the bench for the injured Josh Addison, making them the fourth pair of brothers to share a field for GFC after Jason and Luke Winch, Kieran and Liam Mahon and Harry and Frank Tobin (Keanu and River Marsh played in the same fixture twice but were never on the pitch at the same time, River even coming on as a sub for Keanu in his final appearance).
Fazakerley gave the Green Lions the lead within 30 seconds of kick-off as the Green Lions got the game underway and went on a blistering attack. Fin du Port’s long shot was blocked but the ball was then delivered into the area where Fazakerley was waiting to firing home with an effort that bounced into the ground on its way into the corner for his first goal since his return to the squad after 18 months away.
It was a start reminiscent of Saturday’s demolition of Newhaven as the Green Lions continued to run at their hosts. Fin Patterson drove forward and teed up Frazer Maginnis but goalkeeper Mitch Bromage was equal to it.
Murray’s acrobatic effort flew wide after Niall Hainsworth’s cross from the right, while a pacey effort from Joe Benn whistled narrowly over at the other end. Steyning also had a chance header from a corner and brought a comfortable save from Josh Addison as the hosts broke forward.
Patterson was really catching the eye early on, at the heart of everything good coming from the Greens. The teenager got his head to Charlton Gauvain’s cross from the right headed but Bromage saved.
The hosts got back on level terms five minutes before half-time. Stan Bridgman put the ball in the net after Joe Benn had teed up Harry Heath for the cross. Addison was struggling with an ankle injury from an earlier foul and couldn’t get there. Calls from the defence for offside were ignored by the assistant referee and Addison was immediately replaced by Jordan Kelly before GFC kicked-off.
Guernsey kept up their promising start, though. Fazakerley exchanged possession with Murray and tried his luck from range but Bromage held it.
The Sarnians regained the lead at a great time just before the break as Gauvain’s trickery drew a trip to earn the visitors a penalty. Fin du Port took responsibility in the absence of Ross Allen and sent Bromage the wrong way with a confident finish to regain the lead right on half-time. He took great joy in shushing the opposition players who had been trying to put him off.
Guernsey nearly made it 3-1 straight after the restart through Maginnis. Fazakerley then exchanged passes with Patterson before firing off target.
Jordan Kelly made a fantastic save to keep out Benn’s bicycle kick from the middle of the area, throwing out an arm to divert it onto the crossbar, with shouts for a penalty in the follow-up waved away. Soon after, Gauvain let fly from outside the area but it was down Bromage’s throat.
Steyning had a few more half chances that didn’t trouble Kelly’s goal in the closing stages and the visiting defence stayed resolute to claim an excellent three points.
Pagham’s 2-1 win at Roffey means Guernsey move up to fifth in the Southern Combination Premier Division, three points off second with a game in hand.
STEYNING TOWN: 1 Mitch BROMAGE; 2 Max BLENCOWE; 3 Ed KASLAUSKAS (17 Hayden SKERRY); 4 Tegan FREEMAN; 5 Tad BROMAGE; 6 Conrad HONORE; 7 Scott KIRKWOORD(14 Jazz RANCE); 8 Joe BENN (15 Evan HOARTY); 9 Stan BRIDGMAN (16 Alex BREWER); 10 Dion JARVIS; 11 Harry HEATH. Not used: 12 Lats OLADOKUN.
Booked: Freeman, Rance.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON (13 Jordan KELLY, 40’); 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 3 Jamie DODD (c) (10 Ross ALLEN, 60’); 4 Tom DODDS; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY; 12 Fin du PORT; 19 Will FAZAKERLEY (16 Alex RIHOY, 79′); 22 Fin PATTERSON (25 Tyrese KELLY, 85′); 23 Frazer MAGINNIS (11 Brandon WALLACE, 63’); 24 Jacob FALLAIZE.
Booked: Wallace, Dodds.
Attendance: 127.