Goals: Heaume 3′; Rihoy 23′ – Price 17′; O Hibbert 52′.

Guernsey were superbly disciplined, especially in the second half, as they held firm for a well-earned 2-2 draw against high-flyers Carshalton Athletic on Sunday.

The Green Lions spent the end of the first half and almost the whole of the second half protecting Jordan Kelly’s goal, but despite the pressure from the visitors – who are chasing a play-off place – they kept two solid banks of five and restricted the Robins almost exclusively to constantly passing the ball sideways and shooting from distance. They rarely created opportunities inside the area, and even less that could be considered close-range. Kelly was protected well by his defence and rarely tested.

Even when spending the half defending, it was actually the Sarnians who produced the best chances on the counter-attack.

And the team were willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause, epitomised by Sam Cochrane as he threw himself in front of three powerful shots to make three important blocks all within about a minute during the second half.

In the first half, GFC added to that defensive discipline by being exciting and dangerous going forward, carving out several good opportunities and scoring two lovely goals.

Having anticipated a testing 90 minutes, it was actually Tony Vance’s side who took an early lead. A good move down the right involving Jacob Fallaize and Thomas Dodds saw Robbie Legg’s cross from the right headed away. Dodds hooked it back in and Dom Heaume rose highest at the far post to nod into the corner of the next. The clock had only just ticked over the two-minute mark.

It took more than 10 minutes for Carshalton to create their first opportunity, and it was dangerous. Kingsley Akhionbare beat Cochrane on the right and crossed low for Mickel Miller, who put his effort wide.

That was a sign of things to come as the Robins were level six minutes later. Simon Geall had done well to block Tommy Bradford’s free-kick in the six yard box, but the ball dropped kindly for Carshalton captain Bobby Price on the corner in the area, and he lashed the ball into the far corner – an excellent strike.

It looked as though the visitors were getting on top as Ryan Condoh got on the end of a raking ball from Miller, with his shot flashing across goal.

But Guernsey were undeterred and went in front again midway through the half. Kelly’s long clearance was headed on by Heaume and Dave Rihoy got onto it before his marker and keeper Joe Tupper, executing a lovely dink over the onrushing goalkeeper into the far corner.

Craig Young bent a free-kick narrowly wide just after half-an-hour and Connor Sanders headed wide from a corner just before the break, but all the other chances that game Carshalton’s way for the remainder of the half were from range – and mostly well over the bar or wide (from Bradford, twice, and Miller) – as the Green Lions set up two banks of five to ensure they took their lead into the break. The only one to really trouble the hosts was from Gondoh going for the element of surprise, but Kelly scrambled to his right to tip it wide in one of just three saves he had to make all afternoon.

Young struck a good volley as a corner was half-cleared just after the break, but Tupper held it comfortably, followed by two more efforts from Gondoh that were far too high – one from one of several direct free-kicks awarded to the Robins.

It took eight minutes of the half for Carshalton to get level as Price cut back onto his left foot and sent in an in-swinging delivery that was stabbed home by Omari Hibbert at the near post.

That could have set up a nervy finish of constant pressure from the play-off chasing Robins, but this was where Guernsey’s defensive plan really came into its own. Kelly gathered a low distance effort from Bradford, but it would not be until the latter stages when the visitors would get another decent chance.

At the other end, the Green Lions were dangerous on the break. Ross Allen had been introduced at half-time for his first appearance at Footes Lane since November, and he came within a whisker of scoring on the hour. He played in Dave Rihoy down the right and ran forward to get onto the return ball. He hit it first time from the edge of the area, with the ball curling towards the far post. It was past the outstretched dive of Tupper, bust agonisingly struck the base of the upright.

Rihoy then had a chance of his own from the edge of the area as the Sarnians battled for the ball on the edge of the Carshalton box. His low shot was held comfortably by Tupper.

On 74 minutes, Rihoy knocked down Allen’s raking crossfield pass into the path of Young. The number 10 hit it first time with his left foot from the edge of the area, but Tupper got down to his left to hold.

Carshalton had kept pressing for the winner during this time though, and created a few more chances in the closing stages. Price fired well over, as did Miller – comically – from a free-kick. Substitute Rio Davidson-Phipps volleyed well wide, and Kelly had one more save to make as he plucked Miller’s flicked on header out of the air.

Young almost won it at the death for Guernsey as he fired into the side netting, when he perhaps had better options to pull back to in the middle.

That signalled the end of a thoroughly entertaining afternoon and Vance can be very pleased with his side’s efforts.

Special recognition also goes out to Thomas Dodds and Jacob Fallaize, who completed full shifts despite having each played 90 minutes in the U21 Muratti in Jersey just 24 hours earlier.

The Green Lions remain 21st in the table but moved back to 11 points clear of the bottom three. The rest of the weekend’s Ryman South results were as follows: Chipstead 2-1 Horsham, Cray Wanderers 0-2 Dorking Wanderers, East Grinstead 2-2 Chatham Town, Godalming Town 1-0 Hastings United, Herne Bay 0-5 Greenwich Borough, Hythe Town 0-5 Corinthian-Casuals, Lewes 0-0 Faversham, Molesey 2-2 Three Bridges, Sittingbourne 0-3 Whyteleafe, Tooting & Mitcham United 2-0South Park, Walton Casuals 3-3 Ramsgate.

Carshalton Athletic: Joe Tupper, Bobby Price (c), Ricardo Panton, Connor Sanders (Peter Adeniyi HT), Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Ryan Gondoh, Jordan Hibbert, Omari Hibbert (Ricky Korboa 68′), Kingsley Akhionbare (Rio Davidson-Phipps 72′), Mickel Miller, Tommy Bradford. Not used: Alexandros Kozakis, Ryan Healy.

Booked: Gondoh.