Goals: (Lynch 47’, 72’)

An under-strength Guernsey competed well with another leading side in Isthmian South Central on Tuesday night but ultimately came up short at Basingstoke Town.

Basingtoke top scorer Conor Lynch was the difference with a second half brace that gives them a four-point cushion over the teams just outside the play-offs.

Paul Strudley was also a key man in the hosts’ net, keeping out Tom Jackson and Ross Allen early on, then denied Allen and Will Fazakerley in the closing stages. Lucas Hanley also had an impressive outing at the other end when the Hampshire side put the pressure on.

But the Green Lions left with their heads high having put up a good fight despite missing Keanu Marsh, Jamie Dodd, Kieran Mahon, Charlton Gauvain and Kyle Smith to name a few.

The hosts had the first effort on goal as captain Simon Dunn pulled wide of Lucas Hanley’s near post, but it was Guernsey who had the better of the opening exchanges in front of a bumper crowd not far off 500 spectators.

Strudley’s reactions prevented his side from going behind early, atoning for his initial error as he misjudged Liam Mahon’s free-kick. Will Fazakerley headed back across goal and Jackson hooked the ball acrobatically towards the net but Strudley reacted well to claw it behind.

Matt Loaring overhit his cross-come-shot after collecting Seb Skillen’s cross that had been just too high for Fazakerley, while Bradley Wilson cleared the far top corner after cutting in from the left.

Ross Allen drew another fine save from Strudley, who was at full stretch to his right to keep out the number 10’s free-kick, after he had been pulled back by Robert Sheridan. Jackson retrieved the loose ball for Loaring but the resulting shot flew over.

Hanley claimed a rising drive straight at him after Lynch cut inside Strawbridge and took at for the top corner.

Lynch was causing all sorts of challenges for the visiting back line. His next trick was to cut past Ben Le Tocq on the byline and fire in from the angle. Hanley was beaten but Fallaize anticipated the shot and blocked it on the line. Wilson seized on the rebound but Skillen was in the way.

Lynch’s next effort went wide across goal via a nick off a defender while Loaring blazed high and wide as he chased a loose ball behind the defence at the other end, but was forced to hit it early.

Hanley was called upon again the to close the angle and save from George Reid after Ben Le Tocq had misjudged the flight of a diagonal ball.

With the depleted Green Lions having more than held their own in the first half, it was all to play for after the break, but their plans were undone less than two minutes into the second period.

Lynch had already had an early sighter seen wide by Hanley, but he then captilised on a defensive error, nipping in on Tom Strawbridge’s loose touch and finishing from close range.

Wilson then twice timed his run behind the Sarnian defence to perfection, but failed to finish either as the foot of the near post came to GFC’s rescue, and the second was lifted over. Not to be deterred, Wilson then drove over from 20 yards out.

Anton Rodgers nearly got in on the act as he tricked his way past two defenders on the right byline, but Hanley blocked, before then getting down to his right to keep out Wilson’s 25-yarder.

It just wasn’t Wilson’s day in front of goal. He should have had one as the game ticked into a last 20 minutes after Thomas Dodds had misjudged a high cross towards the far post. The forward brought it down but lashed it wide of the goal, a sitter.

Marcio Neves was introduced for the hosts and had an immediate impact. He was full of flair and his fancy footwork led to the clincher as he evaded several challenges in the box and squared for Lynch to seal the three points with a simple finish.

Guernsey, to their credit, never gave in despite being pinned back from much of the half. Fazakerley challenged Strudwick in the air from an Allen cross but James Haworth got back to not the ball off the line before it could drop in.

Miscommunication at the back for Guernsey almost led to a third as substitute Lloyd Snell closed down Fallaize, but Hanley made a strong save.

Fazakerley was left wondering how he hadn’t pulled one back from virtually a yard out in the closing stages as he pounced on the rebound after Strudley had spilled Allen’s shot from outside the box, but the stopper somehow kept it out without knowing much about it. The ball was hastily hacked away for a corner, with Loaring heading over.

The result meant Guernsey remain 14^th in the table but they are just a point behind Ashford Town and Thatcham Town. Marlow beat Ashford 1-0 in the night’s only other fixture.

Basingstoke Town: 1 Paul Strudley; 2 Aiden Lewis; 3 James Haworth; 4 Robert Sheridan; 5 Nathan Smart; 6 Anton Rodgers; 7 Simon Dunn (c) (17 Jonathan Boardman, 90+1’); 8 Dandre Brown; 9 Bradley Wilson; 10 Conor Lynch (15 Lloyd Snell, 85’); 11 George Reid (14 Marcio Neves, 67’). Not used: 12 McKoy Palmer; 16 Jack French.

Booked: Sheridan.