| GUERNSEY | 3 | – | 0 | HORSHAM YM |
| Fazakerley 41′, 65′ Loaring 73′ |
Guernsey are through to their first ever play-off final after getting revenge over Horsham YM at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.
Will Fazakerley was the star of the show, nodding his side in front against the run of play in the first half, then doubling the lead in a far more dominant second before Matt Loaring made the game safe with a fine finish.
Having initially started brightly, the Green Lions rode their luck through the majority of the first half, but really stepped it up after the break and there could be no complaints from the visitors about being well beaten in the second. Having made some key stops in the first half, GFC keeper Addison didn’t have a save to make in the second 45.
News of a Peacehaven win at Haywards Heath Town means that the final will also be contested at Victoria Park, next Sunday.
The hosts came close within 30 seconds despite not even kicking off as Charlton Gauvain cut inside and had his first cross blocked, but he struck first time as the ball bounced back to him and his low effort zipped just wiude of the near post.
A minute later and Addison was breathing a sigh of relief as his hesitation in closing down a long ball allowed Jesse Sentamu to get there first and go round him. Luckily he was quite far wide and so by the time he got his shot off, Gil Hunter was there to head off the line.
A sweeping Guernsey move teed up Gauvain for a dangerous cross on seven minutes but Sam Murray’s header was held by Sam Freeman.
Horsham really grew into the game from 15 minutes in and Addison atoned for his own error, palming wide to deny Sentamu after his initial poor pass out had gifted the ball back to the visitors in a dangerous error.
The home defence had a minor lapse in concentration to allow Leon Fisher in behind them on the half-hour. He tucked the ball past Addison but the ball bounced mercifully off the foot of the post, resulting in a scramble that eventually saw Addison volley off the line to safety.
A more routine save from Addison saw him hold a low free-kick from Richard Pingling, with a rare reprieve at the other end seeing Fazakerley fire low and wide from range.
Another promising Horsham attack saw Pingling played in for a great chance inside the area but Addison was out quickly to make an important block, all the more vital as the Green Lions suckerpunched their visitors less than two minutes later.
Murray collected on the right and teed up Gauvain to swing in a high cross towards the far post, which hung in the air. Fazakerley watched it all the way before leaping to meet it at the far post and heading it back across goal into the bottom corner and send his side in ahead.
The second half was far comfier from a Guernsey point of view. They had a good early chance to double the lead but Murray was inches away from connecting with a low ball across the six yard box.
It was a half of very few chances but the Lions’ were well in control. They doubled the lead on 65 minutes as the Horsham defence hesitated in dealing with a flick-on and Fazakerley stole in to stab the ball past Freeman.
Less than 10 minutes later and the result was in the bag. Matt Loaring collected 25 yards out and hit a lovely arrowed effort than bounced in off the far post despite a touch from Freeman trying to keep it out.
Addison had rare save to make late on, albeit routine as he held a header after the ball had been delivered into the box.
But the result was never in doubt by this point, but even after the game Guernsey fans were on tenterhooks to learn the result of the other semi-final which would determine whether we had a home or away semi-final. There were cheers in the clubhouse when the news of Peacehaven’s win came through, meaning we will reconvene at Victoria Park one final time on Sunday.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (22 Fin PATTERSON, 88′); 8 Matt LOARING (5 Tom VAUDIN, 85′); 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 12 Fin DU PORT; 15 Ben SOLWAY; 16 Gil HUNTER; 18 Dave MERRIS; 19 Will FAZAKERLEY (11 Brandon WALLACE, 68′); 21 Jacques CAUVIN. Not used: 3 Jamie DODD; 17 Calum LE LACHEUR.
Booked: du Port, Gauvain, Vaudin.
HORSHAM YM: 1 Sam FREEMAN; 4 Gideon ACHEAMPONG (c); 7 Noel FISHER; 8 Dan WEBSTER (9 Charlie MARTIN, 78′); 10 Ousmane DANSOKO (23 Adam ADAM, 58′); 14 James McELLIGOTT; 15 Trick WILSON; 17 Leon FISHER; 19 Richard PINGLING; 20 Jesse SENTAMU (16 Jordan MAGUIRE-DREW, 70′); 22 Shay MATTHEWS (25 Max ROPE, 78′). Not used: 13 Jack BASEY.
Booked: Fisher, Sentamu.
Attendance, 1,002.
