Charlie Robilliard bagged a second successive hat-trick to help Guernsey FC U23s keep up their strong start, this time winning 5-2 at Saltdean United in the U23 East Division of the Southern Combination Football League.
Robilliard’s goals helped Leon Meakin’s side ease away from their hosts after a frantic start that saw both sides score in the first three minutes. If the teenager keeps this up, the clamour for a spot in the first-team squad could be hard to ignore.
With less than a minute on the clock, Riley Tyrrell won the ball back on the left, underlapped and ran back out wide to receive the ball back from Alfie Torode. He skewed his cross but to his delight, sliced it towards the goal where it dropped in just over the head of the goalkeeper for a fortuitous opener.
But Saltdean hit back instantly, breaking down their right, were a low cross was stabbed in at the far post by Zachary Burrows.
Marc McGrath dragged Torode’s excellent low cross just wide from a good position, then a scare at the other end saw the hosts nearly turn the game around but the low shot from close range only found the side netting.
Regan Penney was clattered on the edge of his box, which forced him off meaning veteran midfielder Simon Geall would spend the rest of the game with the gloves.
Guernsey bundled themselves back in front when a corner led to some penalty area pinball, with captain Angus Mackay eventually forcing the ball home from right on the line.
Geall’s only action in goal of the half was to make a decent save, pushing a low driven shot from outside the area behind for a corner.
Torode was always a great outlet on the left wing and, having been picked out by a good pass from substitute Ryan-Zico Black, cut in and drew a save from the Saltdean keeper at his near post. The corner led to a third for the Green Lions as McGrath’s initial flag kick came straight back to him and he produced a lovely piece of skill to beat his man on the byline before drilling in a low cross that found the feet of Robilliard, who steadied himself before thrashing the ball into the roof of the net.
It wasn’t long into the second half that GFC grabbed another. Robilliard took the ball on the half turn and manoeuvred himself past the defender with lovely footwork before tucking in past the keeper to make it 4-1.
Black nearly got a fifth, rifling in a volley from 25 yards that forced the home keeper into a diving save to his left.
But there was a fifth on the cards with Robilliard securing his second hat-trick in as many games with a few minutes remaining. He forced a save from the keeper on the edge of the area when chasing Tyrrell’s high ball forward, collected the loose ball and teed up substitute Peace Le Poidevin, who drove wide and forced another save. The loose ball dropped kindly for Robilliard to turn and secure his treble.
Geall had a couple more straightforward saves to make and saw a other efforts off target, but took a clout right at the death as he tried to get a hand to a set-piece, with a Saltdean sub hooking the ball in for a consolation.
Guernsey are sixth in the table, but have two games in hand over all the teams above them and are the only side to still hold a 100% record. Next up for Meakin’s boys is a trip to Little Common in 10 days’ time.
GUERNSEY: 1 Regan PENNEY (19 Ryan-Zico BLACK); 2 Oskar CLEAL; 5 Sam COOLEY; 6 Riley TYRRELL; 8 Elden ROBERTS; 9 Alfie TORODE; 10 Marc McGRATH (11 Pearce LE POIDEVIN); 12 Aston YOUNG; 14 Simon GEALL; 16 Angus MACKAY (c) (7 Tom SOLWAY); 17 Charlie ROBILLIARD.
Goals: Tyrrell, Mackay, Robilliard 3.
Booked: Tyrrell.
