Bristol City midfielder Ben Acey returns to Footes Lane for the first time since last season as Guernsey welcome South Park to Footes Lane for their first game of 2023.
The teenager returned as a loan player for the Green Lions for their Boxing Day trip to Tooting & Mitcham United to boost Tony Vance’s threadbare squad.
Vance’s options have gone from one extreme to the other. From a few games of scrambling to get a squad of 12 or 13 due to injury and illness, Vance has been able to name 17 players for Monday’s game, with the list set to be reduced to 16 when the teams are handed in.
That means returns for Jacob Fallaize, Tom Martin, Dave Merris, Sam Murray and Matt Loaring. Brandon Wallace and George McNeela, who both made their full debuts on Boxing Day, keep their places.
Kieran Mahon serves the second match of his suspension, with his red card from the abandoned game against Hanworth Villa still in effect. The list of other injured or unavailable players includes Charlton Gauvain, Ross Allen, Will Fazakerley and Joe Alvarez.
The full squad is as follows: J Martin, Addison, Marsh, Vaudin, Fallaize, Dodd, McNeela, T Martin, Dodds, Merris, L Mahon, Acey, Wallace, Loaring, Hale, Murray, Domaille.
Guernsey are seeking a first win since October, having gone seven games without one. A win won’t take them out of the relegation zone, but will put them in touching distance with the pack above.
The Sparks are very much in the play-off mix and had impressive wins over fellow high-flyers Marlow and Northwood recently, but were held to a draw by table proppers Merstham on Boxing Day.
This will be the 14th meeting between the two sides, with GFC winning three of the previous 13, and South Park winning eight (the most any team has regsitered over Guernsey). The Sarnians won three of the first four, meaning Guernsey have gone nine games without winning this fixture.
Monday’s match kicks off at 1pm. Fans unable to make it to Footes Lane can watch full live coverage on GFCTV. Highlights and a full match report will be available on the website after the game.
