Guernsey FC’s Development side were pegged back for the first time as Newhaven ended their four-match winning run at the Trafalgar Ground on Monday night.
In a re-run of the senior fixture last week, a second-half penalty separated the two sides until right at the end when the hosts bagged a second, as the young Green Lions suffered their first defeat in the Southern Combination U23 East Division. It was also the first time ever that they’ve failed to score, in their 17th outing.
Like their senior counterparts last week, the hosts started the brighter, testing Regan Penney a couple of times and also rattling the woodwork.
The Green Lions grew into it and tested Newhaven keeper Jonny Barnes-Galloway themselves, the most notable moment being when Jake Martin forced him to top over his on crossbar after 16 minutes.
Midway through the second half Oskar Cleal was penalised for handball as a cross bounced awkwardly and hit his arm. The referee needed the help of his assistant, who hesitated briefly before flagging for a penalty. McKenzie Lilley drilled it confidently into the top corner, out of Penney’s reach.
Good football from Guernsey got them into the box in search of a quick leveller and Peace Le Poidevin drilled at goal to force Barnes-Galloway into a block and the loose ball wouldn’t quite fall for a green shirt. Cleal then got a vital touch to a goalbound effort after Finley Chisholm had broken through and rounded Penney.
A great great switch from Martin teed up Charlie Robilliard to cut inside and drill at goal, but it was straight into the midriff of Barnes-Galloway, while Elden Roberts got underneath the ball when it broke to him on the edge of the box and he sent it over.
Robilliard rounded Barnes-Galloway and rolled the ball in from a tight angle but the whistle had already gone, with the Guernseyman alleged to have fouled his man as he tried to get on the end of Corey Brouard’s through ball.
Lilley hit a free-kick straight at Penney, and it looked like Robilliard had set Brouard free to equalise but Barnes-Galloway made himself big to make an important stop with the loose ball again not quite dropping to a green shirt for the rebound.
The Dockers sealed the win in injury time. Penney got a hand to a shot but, unlike the luck the lions were having, the rebound fell kindly for a red shirt and Oscar Bunn tucked it away from six yards out to seal the victory.
The next outing for Leon Meakin’s side is at Peacehaven & Telscombe next Monday night.
GUERNSEY: 1 Regan PENNEY; 2 Oskar CLEAL; 4 Angus MACKAY; 6 Riley TYRRELL; 7 Charlie ROBILLIARD; 8 Elden ROBERTS; 9 Alfie TORODE; 10 Corey BROUARD; 11 Fin PATTERSON; 12 Jake MARTIN; 15 Theo COOPER . Subs used: 14 Pearce LE POIDEVIN, 16 Archie LE HURAY.
