After all the drama around the Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final, on Saturday we finally get down to what really matters – the football.
Guernsey are looking to claim promotion back to step four of non-league at the first time of asking in what is their first-ever play-off final, having finished third in the regular season and dispatching Horsham YM in the semi-final.
They face a Peaceheaven & Telscombe side who finished six points further back in sixth, winning 23, drawing six and losing nine games. They may have scored nearly 50 goals less than the Green Lions over the season, but they boast the league’s third meanest defence with just 44 goals conceded compared to GFC’s 78. The Tye also upset the odds by winning at Haywards Heath Town, albeit again 10 men for much of the game, in their semi-final.
A place in the Isthmian League South East Division awaits the winner.
There will be some disappointed players in Tony Vance’s squad as he has almost a full squad to choose from. Jacob Fallaize has been back training after injury, having not quite been ready in time for Dave Merris’s winning Muratti squad. George Goubert is away while Jacques Cauvin will be assessed having been forced off in the first half with an injury against Jersey last weekend.
Fin du Port and Callum Le Lacheur are both one goal away from reaching double figures for the season. Peacehaven’s top scorer for the season is Connor Tighe, who got the decisive strike in the semi-final.
If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the game will go to extra time, followed by a penalty shoot-out if there is still no winner.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 1:30pm. Fans unable to make it to Victoria Park can listen to the full commentary on Facebook Live or our @GuernseyFC X Space, as well as keep up to date with our usual social media posts. A full match report will follow on the website.
With another busy afternoon expected at Victoria Park, please refer to our information page for details of how to travel to the ground by foot, bike, public transport or our Park and Stride initiative.
