TONY Vance and his squad, who seek the highest of standards, considered this result as two points dropped.

To the optimist, Guernsey FC overcame an ever-worsening defensive crisis to earn what could be a precious point in the Green Lions’ fight for the play-offs.

To the pessimist, squandered chances from some of the Green Lions’ most trusted marksmen saw Guernsey lose ground in the play-off race as Hastings’ victory drew them level on points and a resurgent Merstham closed the gap.

Of course, a draw when some of your rivals pick up three points can be grounds for concern, but there were many positive points to take away from Guernsey’s most recent jaunt to Kent.

The cards were once again stacked against the Sarnians, but they defied the defensive odds yet again to take a well-earned draw from Sittingbourne’s TEC Stadium – and they perhaps deserved more.

Sam Cochrane, Tom Strawbridge, Jamie Dodd, most recently Angus Mackay and even Nigel Hutton & Glyn Dyer can count themselves among the wounded or unavailable for the Sarnians’ rearguard.

To make matters worse, Joe Alvarez – who played so well on his first start in more than a year against Hythe last Tuesday – was taken ill overnight and Tom Martin was also absent from the original travelling party.

As a result, Guernsey began the game without a recognised centre-back on the field. Two right-backs and two midfielders made up the back four, and that dilemma only got worse when Jacques Isabelle was forced off with a hamstring injury that saw Josh Steel replace him for his debut.

But the newcomer didn’t put a foot wrong, and alongside him, Simon Geall put in the kind of shift that defied the fact that he had only made seven appearances at step four prior to Saturday.

On the subject of Steel, GFC might well have unearthed another gem. Normally a central-midfielder by trade, the debutant filled in formidably at centre-half and could prove a valuable asset in the final five games of the regular season.

At no point during the game would a casual observer notice that Guernsey had a hastily scrambled together back four. Tom de la Mare and Matt Loaring also put in admirable shifts as attacking-minded full-backs.

Five games remain and recent results don’t suggest that Guernsey will see off the belated challenges of the likes of Hastings and Merstham, but as the odd defender creeps back towards fitness, a top five finish might well still be on the cards.

The Green Lions had to show character to come from behind again after the hosts took the lead out of the blue on 31 minutes. Guernsey’s defence had a rare lapse, and Sittingbourne’s Luke Girt was most alert to Sam Spencer’s defence-splitter, poking the ball past the advancing Tardif to send an already vocal home support into delirium.

But when Ross Allen is in your side, anything can happen – and Guernsey’s talisman did not disappoint. Less than 10 minutes later, he latched on to a chipped ball into the box from Ryan-Zico Black – who had been found after good skill by Matt Loaring – and swivelled past his marker and fired the ball low into the far corner past Adam Malloy on 40 minutes.

There was some controversy about the equaliser. It came from a Guernsey throw-in despite Sittingbourne’s protests that Richardson’s clearance had deflected off Luke Winch on the way into touch. But the referee overruled his assistant’s flag and the Green Lions got the break.

Guernsey had looked most likely to break the deadlock before that, though. Dave Rihoy had already had a long-range effort deflected wide and Rhys Jordan headed narrowly over the crossbar after De La Mare whipped in a dangerous cross following a neat one-two with Marc McGrath.

Black, who has been looking back to his best in recent weeks, came closest of all when he reacted quickest to De La Mare’s low shot from the edge of the box following McGrath’s corner. Black turned and smashed the ball towards goal, only so see it bounce off the upright.

Winch also shot low straight at Molloy after cutting in from the right and Allen lobbed an effort wide when he had more time than he realised to find the back of the net.

After the equaliser, the visitors increased their influence on the tie. Allen tested Molloy again before the break after being teed up by McGrath in the last action of the first half.

It had been a fairly even game, but the Green Lions deserved to be in front based on chances created, and the second half saw more of the same.

Sittingbourne seemed content to sit on their opener and rarely threatened Chris Tardif’s goal after the break, except for a Nick Davis header from a free-kick early into the second period. The hosts also had a half-hearted penalty shout when a cross bounced awkwardly into Loaring’s chest.

Tardif, who was taking his place between the sticks for Guernsey for the 100^th time – becoming the fifth GFC player to reach that landmark – will have more challenging afternoons.

The longer the game went on, the keener the mid-table side were content to hold on to become only seventh team that Guernsey have failed to beat over two league games.

Molloy was key to the Brickies’ ambitions of salvaging a point, but Guernsey’s attackers perhaps should have done better on occasions.

Apart from a couple of wayward efforts, Winch – who was making his first start since Guernsey’s horrendous end-of-season run last season – looked dangerous in possession. He could be the all-important key to unlock defensive doors if Vance’s men are running into brick walls between now and the end of the season.

Black came close again midway into the half with a well-aimed free-kick that was destined for the top right-hand corner had it not been for the intervention of Molloy, who flung himself to his left to tip the ball over the bar.

Rihoy, Allen and McGrath all fired low efforts across goal in the final 15 minutes but nobody was able to get the vital touch in the middle to turn home a winner. The time that Allen did get on the end of Rihoy’s low cross, he was off balance and turned the ball wide.

McGrath had Guernsey best chance of the lot when Loaring’s clearing header sent him through on goal – but he hit the bouncing ball straight at Molloy, and a glorious opportunity went begging.

As the game approached stoppage time, Allen could have hit the winner after he was released by Rihoy’s flick on from a high ball from Black, but his low shot across goal was beaten away by Molloy.

Sittingbourne would have been the happier of the two sides at the final whistle and Guernsey’s battle to remain in the play-offs becomes harder, especially with all the injuries.

But triumph in the face of adversity is one of the qualities that Guernsey do best. 12 points from the final five games will guarantee a top-five slot, but that total would only be required if all the Green Lions’ rivals were to take maximum points in their remaining matches – an unlikely scenario.

Strap yourself in, it could be a rollercoaster.