| GUERNSEY FC WOMEN | 0 | – | 5 | BOGNOR REGIS TOWN |
| Robson 1′ Humphreys 7′ Bell-Thorns 61′, 76′ Downs 68′ |
Guernsey FC Women failed to score at Victoria Park for the first time, and only for the third time ever, as they were comfortably beaten by Bognor Regis Town in their first league outing of the season.
The visitors outshone their hosts in organisation and sharpeness, with the Green Lionesses struggling to click going forward – perhaps highlighting the lack of opportunities for pre-season friendlies for Anna Gauvain’s side.
It started badly, which set the tone for the 90 minutes as Guernsey fell behind inside a minute and, despite some flashes of chances for a period in the first half, never really recovered.
Game was only 30 seconds old when Guernsey surrendered possession cheaply after kick-off. A cross into the Guernsey box was only half cleared and picked up by Loulou Robson, who seized her opportunity to strike from distance and found the top-left corner.
The poor start got worse just seven minutes in when a pass forward from the visitors split the defence and Sophie Humphrey ran onto it and rounded Queripel before slotting in from the angle. Shortly before that, Queripel had to hold an effort from Humphrey after she found space in the box.
Guernsey provided a brief response as Calleigh Hedley teed up Candice Bougourd for a looping shot that bounced down off the crossbar. Amy Dallamore had a credible claim for a penalty as she appeared to be impeded trying to reach the rebound, but the referee ignored the assistant referee’s flag.
As ever, Hedley offered the brightest spark for the Green Lionesses and her excellent hold up play was the catalyst for a team move which led to her firing just wide of the near post. She did similar midway through the half after a mazy run into the area.
Bougourd hit a free-kick straight down the throat of Nicole Robinson and the Bognor Regis keeper had to make another important save at her near post after Hedley had released Le Flem down the left to cut in and shoot.
Talliah Anderson should have made it three nine minutes into the second half after Queripel collided with a team mate when coming out to the ball, but she lifted her chance over the top.
Bognor extended their advantage on the hour to as Rebecca Bell-Thorns found herself free at a corner to nod her side into a 3-0 lead. It was four just a few minutes later from another corner as the ball reached Macie Downs at the far post and she duly dispatched.
Queripel made a strong save on 72 minutes to deny Bell-Thorns a second, but there was a reversal of luck in the final quarter hour as the Guernsey stopper blocked a shot from Freya Boxer but Bell-Thorns was there to tap in the rebound.
Elise Le Lacheur mustered Guernsey’s only effort of the half from the edge of the box but Poppy Shine was equal to it as it was headed for the corner. Boxer was unlucky not to make it six in injury time as her shot rebounded off the crossbar.
The Green Lionesses need to find a rhythm, which may now start to come with league games starting to fill the calendar. Plenty to learn from as we move on to the next one at Bournemouth Sports Reserves next Sunday.
Sunday’s other results in the Southern Region Women’s Division One South were as follows: AFC Stoneham 2-0 Bournemouth Sports Reserves, AFC Varsity 3-3 Whitchurch United, Andover New Street 3-2 AFC Portchester Reserves, Millbrooke 2-3 Havant & Waterlooville, Wimborne Town 9-1 Bursledon.
GUERNSEY: 1 Emma QUERIPEL; 3 Mollie WATSON; 4 Aimee OGIER; 5 Scarlett KENNEALLY; 6 Amy DALLAMORE; 7 Codie LE FLEM; 8 Candice BOUGOURD (c); 9 Calleigh HEDLEY; 10 Donna GALLIENNE; 17 Elenista LAMBROU; 23 Zakiyya QASIM. Subs used (rolling): 11 Adrienne LEECH; 12 Elise LE LACHEUR; 14 Steph BATISTE; 19 Eleanor JAMIESON; 21 Alana HOCKEY.
Booked: Bougourd.
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN: 1 Nicole ROBINSON; 2 Alice GUE; 4 Macie DOWNS; 5 Loulou ROBSON; 7 Millie CARTER; 9 Sophie HUMPHREY ; 16 Lola BOWDITCH; 17 Lucienne SELVESTER; 19 Freya BOXER; 22 Lucie WRIGHT; 34 Rebecca BELL-THORNS. Subs used (rolling): 14 Clara CASTANHEIRA; 20 Talliah ANDERSON; 24 Poppy SHINE.
