Guernsey finally recorded their first win of the season and ended a run of 13 games without victory as they pressed home a one-man advantage to beat Herne Bay 5-1 at Footes Lane.

Three late goals somewhat skewed the scoreline as Herne Bay were still very much in the game until late on, but the Green Lions have stopped the rot and given their goal difference a boost as they moved out of the relegation zone.

It didn’t look as if the game would turn out that way in a first half featuring just two half-chances for the Sarnians as they went in behind again despite playing against 10 men.

It was a quiet opening in which the main talking points were Alex Le Prevost’s vital tackle on Danny Williams after Simon Geall had missed his header, and a free-kick by Sam Hasler from the half-way line almost finding the corner after the GFC defence let it bounce all the way through.

Hasler then missed a sitter from the edge of the area, with Tardif holding the low shot after Le Prevost had first made a good tackle then lost sight of the ball, allowing Williams to square for Hasler.

Herne Bay then lost Hasler to a needless red card on 33-minutes. He had been fouled by Jamie Dodd, and Thomas Dodds had gone to ground to make a tackle just as Hasler was heading to the floor, resulting in the two coming together. Hasler aimed a headbutt towards the teenager and was given his marching orders for the second time in a week.

Instead of galvanising the Green Lions, they actually fell behind five minutes later when Le Prevost needlessly tripped James Turner in the box as he was heading away from goal. Williams kept it cool to find the bottom-right corner.

Guernsey had a couple of chances towards the end of the half, but Ross Allen’s left-footed curler lacked pace and was easily picked up by Jack Delo. Dodds then let fly from the edge of the box but a Bay defender threw himself in front of it to block.

Once again, Vance felt he had to make a half-time substitution to kick start his side. It worked to perfection as replacement Matt Loaring – on at the break for Ryan-Zico Black – pulled back for Ross Allen, whose close-range shot was already goalbound but diverted into the opposite corner by a defender. It had taken less then 30 seconds after the restart for the Sarnians to haul themselves level.

From then on it was all about whether 10-man Herne Bay could hold on. Loaring was put through on goal but hit the side-netting at the near post. The midfielder then saw a low shot from the edge of the box cleared away.

Herne Bay threatened when Kane Phillips volleyed narrowly wide from Stuart Zanone’s high cross from the right-hand side on 56 minutes.

Guernsey got their noses in front for the first time in the league this season on 64 minutes. Le Prevost’s through-ball was inch-perfect for Dave Rihoy, who slotted low across goal into the far corner.

The visitors then tested GFC’s defence twice further as Williams headed just wide from Joe Nelder’s free-kick and Kenny Sanders shot from distance, with Tardif gathering comfortably.

Craig Young smashed high and wide in going for the spectacular, and it would take until the closing stages for the Green Lions to press home their one-man advantage against tiring Herne Bay legs.

Substitute Marc McGrath lofted a brilliant pass from the left wing in the 88th minute. Dom Heaume controlled it and could have shot himself but instead squared to Allen, who was in acres of space to shoot low into the corner to end to put the game to bed.

But the Green Lions weren’t finished yet. Craig Young got his goal after McGrath had run on to Heaume’s header and then pull the ball back from the byline for ‘Bungo’ to bury it from six yards.

Young nearly had another but saw his shot saved by Delo at close range. He fought to win it back and crossed low from the byline, with the ball bouncing off Delo, diverting it in for an own-goal.

The Green Lions moved out of the relegation zone thanks to their first three-point haul since April and gives the Sarnians a chance to go three unbeaten when they hosts Walton Casuals on Wednesday.

The other Ryman South results were as follows: Corinthian-Casuals 1-0 Ramsgate, Dorking Wanderers 2-1 Hastings United, Faversham Town 0-3 Tooting & Mitcham United, Godalming Town 0-1 Cray Wanderers, Greenwich Borough 3-0 Chatham Town, Horsham 1-1 Walton Casuals, Hythe Town 3-1 East Grinstead Town, Molesey 1-0 Chipstead, Sittingbourne 1-3 Lewes, South Park 1-0 Three Bridges, Whyteleafe 1-1 Carshalton Athletic.

Guernsey: Chris Tardif ©, Simon Geall, Jamie Dodd, Josh Steel (Marc McGrath 63’), Alex Le Prevost, Thomas Dodds, Dave Rihoy (Liam Mahon 72’), Ryan-Zico Black (Matt Loaring HT), Dom Heaume, Ross Allen, Craig Young. Not used: Jack Domaille, Seb Skillen.

Goals: Allen 46’, 88’; Rihoy 64’, Young 90+1’, OG 90+3’. Booked: Geall, Dodd, Dodds, Rihoy, Black, McGrath.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Nathan Eastwood ©, Kenny Sanders (Casey Turner 90’), Joe Nelder, Joshua Algar, James Turner (Sam Hallett 77’), Kane Phillip (Harry Brown 84’), Danny Williams, Stuart Zanone, Sam Hasler.

Goal: Williams pen 38’. Booked: Phillip. Sent off: Hasler.