| GUERNSEY | 2 | – | 4 | PAGHAM |
| Gauvain 39′ Fazakerley 53′ | | | | Giles 51′ Neighbour 78′ Brown 80′ Jones 89′ |
Pagham made the best of the gale on Saturday as they scored three goals in the final quarter hour to become the first visitors to win at Victoria Park this season.
Guernsey found it hard to get the ball forward playing against the strong wind in the second half. They went back in front soon after being pegged back but couldn’t hold on, fell behind and the visitors bagged a late clincher on the break.
The Green Lions started with purpose with the wind at their backs, Ross Allen chopped back to make space for himself inside three minutes but fired wide, then Will Fazakerley struck the post after good work by Sam Murray.
Storm Amy havoc, with Pagham struggling to kick the ball out of their half and the hosts’ forward passes blowing beyond their intended targets and corners curling out of play.
Pagham’s first chance on 13 minutes was blasted over the bar from just outside the box by Harry Giles, with Guernsey then going straight up the other end and Fin du Port was denied by Conor Kelly. Giles also skied a golden chance from close range at a Pagham corner.
Conor Kelly’s namesake in the Greens’ goal, Jordan, made a brilliant save to prevent Aaron O’Brien putting the Lions ahead just after the half hour, six minute before Gauvain got the opener for the Sarnians.
Guernsey’s number seven picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired a pinpoint strike through the crowd into the far bottom corner.
The Greens thought they had a chance to double their lead just before half-time as du Port went down in the box under Kelly’s challenge and the referee pointed to the spot, but the assistant’s flag went up and following discussions between the officials, the referee reversed his decision and gave Pagham a free-kick.
Allen nearly made it two five minutes after the restart after dancing through the visiting defence. His first effort was blocked and his second wide of the mark – and Pagham were level moments later.
The Lions worked the ball nicely out to the left. The block on the cross sent the ball looping up with Harry Giles bringing it down, steadying himself and finding the corner.
But Tony Vance’s side were back level within moments as Murray square from the right byline and Fazakerley tucked into an empty net from a couple of yards out for his second goal in two games, which was his 25th for the club and marked his century appearance.
Du Port sent Fazakerley through on 56 minutes but the striker fired wide, but having failed to make the most of the wind in the first half, they found themselves struggling to avoid being pinned back by the game. Captain Howard Neighbour turned and hit a forward pass first time from the edge of the D to make it 2-2 on 78 minutes, then the visitors complete the turnaround two minutes later as Duncan Brown found himself free at the far post and his hooked volley looped over Jordan Kelly into the far corner.
Guernsey then had to throw bodies forward in search of a leveller and substitute Kieran Jones punished the hosts for losing the ball as he ran clear to seal the points with Pagham’s fourth.
The Green Lions now have a week off before a trip to table proppers Lancing, who got their first win of the season this weekend. The Green Lions drop to seventh in the table but have games in hand on several of the teams above.
Saturday’s other Southern Combination Premier Division results were as follows: Bexhill United 2-1 Horsham YM, Crawley Down Gatwick 2-3 Wick, Eastbourne United 7-0 Shoreham, Forest Row 1-1 Midhurst & Easebourne, Lingfield 0-1 Lancing, Little Common 1-1 Roffey, Newhaven 0-4 Haywards Heath Town, Peacehaven & Telscombe 1-1 Steyning Town, Seaford Town 6-0 AFC Varndeanians.
GUERNSEY: 13 Jordan KELLY; 3 Jamie DODD (2 Niall HAINSWORTH, 78′); 5 Tom VAUDIN; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Brandon WALLACE (23 Frazer MAGINNIS, 86′); 12 Fin DU PORT; 15 Ben SOLWAY; 17 Callum LE LACHEUR; 19 Will FAZAKERLEY (22 Fin PATTERSON, 74′). Not used: 4 Tom DODDS; 18 Dave MERRIS.
Booked: Dodd.
PAGHAM: 1 Conor KELLY; 2 Mason VINCE; 3 Jordan WARREN; 4 Joseph BRIFFA; 5 Owen SHERIFF; 6 Duncan BROWN; 7 Aaron O’BRIEN; 8 Harry GILES; 9 Howard NEIGHBOUR (c); 10 Thomas JEFKINS; 11 Kaleem HAITHAM. Subs: 12 Alfie DAVIDSON; 14 WOLLERS; 15 George BOWERMAN; 17 Lewis HAMILTON; 18 Kieran JONES.
Booked: Neighbour.
Attendance: 468.