Guernsey are out of both cup competitions at the first hurdle for the second season running after exiting the FA Trophy with a 2-0 preliminary qualifying defeat at South Park on Saturday.

It was the same disappointment in terms of a result as the league trip to King George’s Field on August bank holiday Monday, but there were far more positive to take from this display as the Sarnians put up a better fight and came much closer to scoring.

It was a rare error from Simon Geall that gifted the Sparks their 65th-minute opener, with the clincher coming five minute from time.

The match started in similar fashion to the two sides’ previous meeting, with the Green Lions pinned back by their hosts.

Kieran Lavery sliced wide on eight minutes after capitalising on Jack Domaille’s slip and cutting across the edge of the penalty area, while McElligott’s low cross from the right evaded both Lavery and Kieran Quartey in the six-yard box a minute later when both would have had a tap-in into an open goal.

The Sparks kept up the pressure as Nathan Ayling’s distance effort whistled narrowly over on the quarter-hour and it took until midway through the game for GFC to threaten the home goal.

Marc McGrath whipped in a brilliant cross from the right wing and Craig Young threw himself in for a diving header, but he didn’t get enough on it and the ball spun wide.

Chris Tardif then kept the score level as he stood his ground to block a low shot with his legs after James McElligott was put through on goal.

Tony Vance’s tactical switch to a back four looked like it might pay dividends as GFC started to grow into the game.

They came within inches of taking the lead three times in a matter of seconds. Ross Allen danced around defenders in the box and was put through after a one-two with Young. His low shot was blocked by Simon Wastell, with the ball looping up in the air. McGrath challenged for it virtually on the goal line but the Sparks defender just got there first. Young was following up and his looping header was on target but Wastell got back in the nick of time to fingertip the ball over the bar. Josh Steel glanced the following corner wide with his head.

That was it until the break but the Green Lions came out like a steam train for the second half, with Dom Heaume’s header cleared as it looked to drop in at the far post within a minute of the restart.

But the impetus soon faded away as the match became more even again, although Allen did force Wastell into another save at his near post just before the hour following Geall’s through ball. Heaume was lurking for a rebound but Wastell held at the second attempt.

The Guernsey defence was standing strong and looking comfortable, but that was all undone in the 65th minute.

Geall’s header back towards Tardif from a bouncing ball was agonisingly short and Lavery nipped in ahead of the stopper to poke the ball over him and tap into an empty net.

It was almost two within two minutes as King slid a low ball in from the left, but Quartey somehow only struck the foot of the post from six yards.

McElligott then had two chances in quick succession to put the game beyond GFC. He hit the first straight at Tardif and then scooped wide when going for an elaborate chip over the Guernsey keeper.

Kyle Smith returned to competitive action from the bench for the injured Young just after the hour and his industry in closing down the Sparks defence almost resulted in an equaliser but Allen shot straight at Wastell from the edge of the box.

The Green Lions had not capitalised on their chances and the game was put beyond them with five minutes remaining when substitute Asa Rixon-Nicholls, who had netted for his side in the earlier fixture this season, ghosted in at the back post to finish off Dean Lovegrove’s corner from the right that had evaded everyone..

Ryan-Zico Black came close to grabbing a consolation for the visitors deep into stoppage-time, but his free-kick was tipped over by Wastell.

There wasn’t even time to take the corner, with the referee then calling time on another disappointing result for the Green Lions as the winless away run goes on.

Chipstead’s draw and subsequent replay means Tony Vance’s side will have a week off.

Vance will hope for positive news on Young, who has a suspected fractured foot which forced him off in the second half.

South Park: James Wastall, Dean Lovegrove, Ben King, Jack Stafford (c), Dylan Merchant, Jake Gill, James McElligott (Joe Jackson 86’), Nathan Ayling, Kieran Lavery, Michael Smith (Asa Rixon-Nicholls 78’), Kieran Quartey (Dan Moody 70’). Not used: James Cottee, Jerry O’Sullivan.

Goals: Lavery 65’, Rixon-Nicholls 78’. Booked: Lovegrove.

Guernsey: Chris Tardif (c), Simon Geall, Jamie Dodd, Josh Steel, Jack Domaille, Thomas Dodds, Marc McGrath, Ryan-Zico Black, Dom Heaume, Ross Allen, Craig Young (Kyle Smith 62’). Not used: Jordan Kelly.

Booked: Allen.