Another disappointing away trip for Guernsey ended in a 5-2 defeat to early Ryman South pace-setters Corinthian-Casuals.

The Green Lions, despite not seeing much of the ball, saw their game plan work fairly well in the first half, but it was sloppiness in defence that led to the three goals before the break.

Two more Casuals strikes in the second half sandwiched a Ross Allen brace.

It was a quiet opening quarter-hour but Josh Addison made a strong block with his legs from Shaun Okojie.

Okojie threatened again in the 17th minute with a powerful header from a corner but it was blocked and Addison collected the second delivery.

A rare Guernsey chance in the first half came courtesy of Ross Allen. He jinked into the box in the 20th minute but his low shot was deflected into the side netting at the near post.

Allen was involved again just three minutes later as he forced a ball through to Skillen but the young midfielder dragged his shot narrowly wide.

The Green Lions were holding their own, but their good work was undone shortly before the half-hour mark when a corner led to a goalmouth scramble around the six-yard box. At least a dozen players were kicking around the ball but eventually Jack Strange got the final touch to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Casuals kept pressing and Josh Gallagher curled a great effort against the post after Alex Le Prevost had missed his header. The rebound found its way back to Gallagher who this time cleared the crossbar. Le Prevost was then alert to block a shot from Ben Cheklit cutting inside to the edge of the area.

Vance was left frustrated as the home side doubled their lead on 39 minutes. Dom Heaume and Simon Geall were both unable to put in a strong enough challenge to halt Jamie Byatt down the left and the cross found Okojie at the far post. The number nine couldn’t miss from a yard out as he chested the ball over the line.

2-0 would have been hard enough to deal with at half-time, but Vance’s task was made even worse in stoppage time as Okojie took advantage of GFC’s failure to clear their lines and finished into the corner from the middle of the area.

Addison made a strong save from Gallagher’s header just six minutes into the second half to prevent a fourth, while Skillen saw a shot blocked at the other end five minutes later.

Addison gathered again from Gallagher, and before the hour mark Loaring tested Danny Bracken with perhaps GFC’s best chance of the game so far, but his powerful effort was blocked at the near post.

Key defender Alex Le Prevost was unfortunately forced off with concussion and later taken to hospital as a precaution. He was replaced by Jack Domaille, who went on to make a promising debut.

Addison made another key save on 73 minutes as he blocked at the near post from Jamie Byatt. A minute later, Guernsey nearly capitalised on slack defending but Bracken rushed out quickly to smother with Legg lurking.

But Addison couldn’t keep out the hosts again for much longer and Josh Uzun’s curler dipped wickedly under the bar after a good team move to make it 4-0.

Guernsey tried to keep their spirits up and certainly created more chances in the second half. Allen hit a curling free-kick on 77 minutes that was gathered by Bracken.

The Green Lions were given a chance to salvage some pride with just over 10 minutes to go when Heaume when down under a challenge. Casuals were livid with the decision they felt Byatt had got the ball, but his sliding challenge was from behind and the referee pointed to the spot. Allen found the bottom right corner to make it 4-1.

Addison had to be at his best as he made a flying save to prevent a Skillen own goal, and four minutes later it was 4-2.

Thomas Dodds’ pinpoint pass found Heaume on the right corner of the six-yard box. The big number nine pulled back for Allen who buried the ball into the roof of the net.

Hopes of an unlikely comeback were quickly extinguished as Bracken then held an Allen free-kick, and Corinthian-Casuals rubbed salt into the wound deep into stoppage time as substitute Brandon Johnson hit a powerful shot into the far corner to make the final score 5-2. The Guernsey defence were frustrated as they felt a Casuals player blocked a free-kick in the build up despite being well under 10 yards, leading to a turnover of possession in the hosts’ favour.

Guernsey dropped into the relegation zone. The other Ryman South results were as follows: Chatham Town 3-2 Herne Bay, Dorking Wanderers 2-0 Godalming Town, Faversham Town 1-2 Hythe Town, Greenwich Borough 3-0 East Grinstead Town, Hastings United 1-1 Sittingbourne, Horsham 1-3 Molesey, Ramsgate 2-2 Cray Wanderers, Whyteleafe 1-3 Tooting & Mitcham United.

GFC’s winless away run goes on with a tough trip to high-flying Carshalton Athletic on Saturday.

Corinthian-Casuals: Danny Bracken (c), Niall Wright, Jamie Byatt, Jack Strange, Terry Murray, Kevant Serbony, Ben Cheklit (Mahrez Bettache 61), Josh Gallagher (Shaun Brown 71), Shaun Okojie, Josh Uzun (Brandon Johnson 85), Jeuvan Spencer. Not used: Warren Morgan, Danny Dudley.

Goals: Strange 28′, Okojie 39′,45+1′, Uzun 75′, Johnson 90+2. Booked: Johnson.

Guernsey: Josh Addison, Simon Geall (Tom Martin 51′), Tom De La Mare, Jamie Dodd (c), Alex Le Prevost (Jack Domaille 60′), Thomas Dodds, Matt Loaring, Ryan-Zico Black (Robbie Legg 65′), Dom Heaume, Ross Allen, Seb Skillen.

Goals: Allen 79′ (pen), 87′.