Goals: Rihoy 5’; Young 60’ – Bradford 53’.

Guernsey produced perhaps their best performance of the season to take all three points against a high-flying Carshalton Athletic again Footes Lane on Saturday. 

The Green Lions, who had the benefit of 10-days’ rest and several quality training sessions with a competitive group leading up to this fixture, attacked with swagger and defended solidly. It goes to show the levels Tony Vance’s side can reach when everything falls into place.

Only an excellent free-kick from Tommy Bradford breached debutant Will Dennis’ net. That was sandwiched by two excellent Sarnian team goals finished off by Dave Rihoy and Craig Young respectively. It would have been more comprehensive had the crossbar not come to Carshalton’s rescue three times in the second half.

An injury to Bournemouth loanee Callum Stanton, which the stopper thinks will keep him out for at least a couple of months, meant his parent club sent a replacement in 17-year-old Dennis – already a commanding presence at 6ft 2ins. He made a solid debut, dealing well with the work that came his way and didn’t have a chance for the Robins’ goal. He also made one particularly important save to prevent GFC falling behind in the second half.

Guernsey started strongly and took the game to their play-off chasing opponents. Young scooping a chance wide across goal with the outside of his right foot in the first minute, when perhaps the pullback would have been the better option, was a signal of their intent.

That was rewarded within the first five minutes with a lovely goal. Allen did well to control Frank Tobin’s pacy ball forward and teed up Harry Tobin. A first-time pass found the run of Charlton Gauvain (pictured), who could have shot but unselfishly squared to Rihoy, who was able to roll the ball in from the angle just a couple of yards out.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between for the next 25 minutes or so, but that suited Vance’s men just fine as they expertly kept their opponents at bay whilst looking threatening on the counter.

It took until 33 minutes for the Robins’ first decent effort on goal when Mickel Miller’s curler flew wide of the far post from the right-corner of the penalty area. Six minutes later, deadball specialist Jordan Cheadle had Dennis scrambling with a bending free-kick that flashed across goal and wide.

There was time for two more Guernsey chances in the final five minutes of the half as Allen’s effort was blocked on the edge of the area and Tom De La Mare had a similar effort held by Billy Bishop after Rihoy had beaten the offside trap down the right wing and pulled the ball back.

The Sarnians had played so well in the first half, so Carshalton’s equaliser on 53 minutes was a real kick in the teeth. Jamie Dodd was adjudged to have manhandled Miller to the ground right on the edge of the Guernsey box. Bradford bent it past the wall into the far corner, giving Dennis no chance.

That sparked a change in gear for the Robins, who battered the Green Lions for the next few minutes and Guernsey were fortunate not to see the scoreline turned on its head.

Just a minute after the leveller, Simon Geall’s header back to his keeper was woefully short, and Dennis had to stand his ground to block Miller’s effort. Substitute Levi Phillips should have buried the rebound from point-black range but somehow miscued wide from six yards with the goal gaping. Ricky Korboa saw a shot skip wide from distance before GFC started to get back on top of the game again.

It was a case of cometh the hour, cometh the man – or perhaps men given the nature of the goal. Allen scooped a ball over the top for Rihoy to chase in the left channel. His low centre found Young, who dropped his shoulder and showed lovely footwork to shuffle past his marker and tuck the ball past Bishop from close range for his third goal in four games.

Within 10 minutes it could have been three as Rihoy headed down Allen’s cross from the right. Substitute Paris Pereira’s and Young’s efforts were blocked and the ball fell back to Allen, who smashed the crossbar with a rising drive from six yards out.

He was to suffer the same fate six minutes later as Pereira was clattered by Bishop and the number 10 struck the bar with his free-kick across goal. Harry Tobin poked the rebound wide.

Two chances fell to Young in quick succession in the final 10 minutes. First he screwed wide as a half-cleared free-kick dropped to him on the edge of the area. A minute later, he reached Rihoy’s pullback, after some fine skill by the number seven, but smacked the bar from eight yards out.

Three times in 15 minutes the Green Lions had rattled the woodwork, and there was always that worry that failing to make any of those chances could come back to haunt them.

It was indeed a nervy finish as the Robins’ sent ball after ball into the box, but Guernsey’s rear-guard held firm to claim a huge three points and send out a statement to the rest of the league that they can compete with the best in the division.

GFC moved up to 18th in Bostik South. The rest of the weekend’s results were as follows: Ashford United 1-1 East Grinstead Town, Chipstead 0-2 Thamesmead Town, Cray Wanderers 4-2 Corinthian-Casuals, Greenwich Borough 2-1 South Park, Hastings United 1-0 Faversham Town, Herne Bay 1-0 Walton Casuals, Hythe Town 1-0 Whyteleafe, Molesey 3-4 Phoenix Sports, Ramsgate 1-0 Horsham, Shoreham 0-4 Sittingbourne, VCD Athletic 1-2 Lewes. 

Carshalton Athletic: Billy Bishop, Ryan Healy, Paris Hamilton-Downes (c), Antone Douglas (Sean O’Toole 66’), Jordan Cheadle, Mekhail McLaughlin, Ricky Korboa, Reece Cave (Peter Adeniyi 66’), Joshua Phillips (Levi Phillips 54’), Tommy Bradford, Mickel Miller. Not used: Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Stuart Searle.

Booked: Bishop, Hamilton-Downes, Cheadle.