Goals: Crellin 21′; Adelakin 41′, 83′; Garrod 60′ – Goals: Mackay 5′; Andrews 46′, 73′ (pen).

Guernsey produced a strong second-half display that deserved better, but were ultimately left frustrated as they ended up on the wrong wide of a 4-3 scoreline against fellow struggler Three Bridges at Jubilee Field.

The Green Lions deserved at least a point as they recovered from a poor first half to look a completely different team after the break.

There were excellent goals from both sides, with Bristol City loanee Jake Andrews adding a brace to his debut goal against Herne Bay, again netting from the spot.

But Hakeem Adelakun’s late pinpoint free-kick settled it for the hosts, who edge closer to sides just above the bottom three, including Tony Vance’s side.

Angus Mackay, who seems to be developing a taste for the spectacular, fired GFC into an early lead as he let fly from distance with a swerving effort into the far corner inside just five minutes.

Loaring thought he had made it two in the 12th minutes as he tapped in Robbie Legg’s low shot across goal after great work by Andrews, but the midfielder was flagged offside.

Unfortunately that promising start was not a hint of what was to come for the rest of the half as the hosts controlled the the game.

Josh Addison was the Sarnians’ star man in the first half with a string of fine stops to keep his side in the contest. Routine saves saw him comfortably hold from John Lansdale and Jamie Crellin from range and a curler from Michael Wilson throughout the first 45.

But he saved his best for three other excellent stops – although they all came after the Bridges had equalised midway through the half. A corner from the hosts’ right was only half cleared and Jamie Crellin stabbed home the rebound.

They would have been in front almost immediately if it hadn’t been for Addison. Steve Sargent’s free-kick was diverted towards goal and the young stopper flung himself to his left to tip it wide.

Another key reaction stop from a header at point-blank range diverted the ball onto the crossbar and over, and then Addison tipped wide from Adelakun’s shot from the edge of the box.

Those two latter stops came towards the end of the half as the pressure was building, and eventually that bore fruit for the hosts on 41 minutes. Kodi Lyons-Foster got a head to a corner but it sat up nicely for Adelakun on the edge of the box. He controlled and looped a beautiful volley into the net.

There was much work to do by Tony Vance and his coaching staff at the break – but whatever they said worked as GFC, for the third time this season, came flying out of the blocks to net within moments of the restart.

From kick-off, Mackay’s raking pass found Loaring on the left. He crossed from the touchline and Andrews got there first to finish from close range with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

This renewed spark looked like it could propel the Green Lions to that elusive away win. Paris Pereira won the ball back on the wing and forced Mark Fox to push his shot wide. That came just after Lyons-Foster sliced high and wide as Andrews’ quick free-kick nearly caught out the Bridges’ defence.

But the game tipped back in the hosts’ favour on the hour completely against the run of play, and it was a gift for their striker Tony Garrod. He was able to walk the ball into the net after Addison had unfortunately lost his footing and slipped at the vital moment when racing out to meet Thomas Dodds’ slightly underhit backpass.

Addison didn’t let that deter him, though, as he pushed away a shot from Garrod midway through the half. Lansdale then wasted a golden opportunity to put clear daylight between the sides as he found himself free just a yard out from a long throw but somehow headed over.

GFC got level again in the 73rd minute as Legg was caught with a high foot in the area. Having scored from the spot on his debut against Herne Bay, Andrews stepped up again to lash in a similar effort into the corner for his third goal in two matches.

The impetus now seemed back with the hosts but they could not break though again as they sought a first win on the road this year. Andrews had the best chance on the counter-attack but had more time than he realised and scooped wide as he attempted to lift the ball over Fox.

That was as good as it got for Guernsey, whose good work was all in vain as they fell behind again with just seven minutes left of the 90. Lyons-Foster fouled his man some 25-yards plus away from goal, but Adelakun stepped up brilliantly to curl a free-kick into the corner past Addison’s dive.

The Green Lions had run out of steam. Addison blocked from Allan Tait in stoppage time and fellow substitute Kieran Djilali wasted a glorious chance by curling hide and wide when through as Three Bridges looked to make the game safe.

A trip to Ryman South leaders Dorking Wanderers on boxing day now represents the Green Lions’ final chance to register a solitary victory away from home in 2016. Tuesday’s other Ryman South result saw Saturday’s visitors to Footes Lane, Molesey, edge a nine-goal thriller 5-4 against Hastings United.

Three Bridges: Mark Fox, Ned Pierre (Allan Tait 74′), Hakeem Adelakun, John Lansdale, Dan Mobsby, Jamie Crellin (c), Jack Rowe-Hurst (Kieran Djilali 82′), Michael Wilson, Tony Garrod, Steve Sargent, Dominic Toussaint. Not used: Stefon Hayes, Bradley Peters, Tim Cook.

Booked: Mobsby, Pierre, Crellin.