Ross Allen bid a fond farewell to Footes Lane as his goal helped Guernsey to a 2-0 win over Chipstead in his final home game before he goes travelling.

Allen added to Bucktrouts man-of-the-match Marc McGrath’s strike in the opening moments in the second half as the Green Lions earned back-to-back wins at home for the second time this season.

It wasn’t vintage GFC, but Tony Vance’s side did was needed as they survived a few hairy moments in defence to edge further away from the Ryman South drop zone.

The Sarnians weren’t able to click into gear in the same manner as they managed in Saturday’s win over Chipstead, and the visitors created the better opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

Chips top scorer Raheem Sterling-Parker dragged his shot wide across goal just five minutes in when well placed, and Josh Addison – who would go on to collect his first clean sheet for the club – stood his ground to beat over a shot from Mario Quisaca with the defence all at sea.

More sloppy play at the back in the 17th minute presented Sterling-Parker with a glorious chance to give his side the lead. Addison was forced to rush well out of his area to try and arrive first to a short backpass from Jamie Dodd. Addison didn’t get there, leaving Sterling-Parker to chip towards an open goal from distance. Luckily his radar was slightly off and the ball bounced off the crossbar.

McGrath had Guernsey’s first chance from a free-kick, which could have been a cross from the left but dipped towards goal and forced Luke Colquhoun to tip it over.

Good work by Kyle Smith fashioned a chance for Dave Rihoy, but the number seven pulled it wide from long range.

The Green Lions were building up a head of steam and created a flurry of good openings in the middle stage of the first half. Rihoy half-volleyed over after Dom Heaume had headed down a sliced clearance and Dodd cleared the crossbar from 30 yards.

Colquhoun was called upon again to smother as Rihoy tried to work an opening in the six-yard box after Josh Steel’s shot from the edge of the area had been deflected into his path.

Just a minute later, Allen drove through the box but Colquhoun diverted his shot up into the air before grabbing it at the second attempt.

But then the momentum swung back Chipstead’s way in terms of chances as Addison helped over Chris O’Flaherty’s free-kick.

Addison came rushing out again in similar fashion to earlier and was not able to clear the ball. It dropped again to Sterling-Parker for an almost identical chances from distance but Le Prevost saw it wide.

There was still time from one more Addison save as he held at his near post from Sterling-Parker.

The Green Lions needed a bit more life injected into them and whatever Vance and Colin Fallaize had to say to them at half-time did the trick as they came flying out of the blocks and went in front within 30 seconds of the restart.

Allen was pushed further forward and his cross from the right fell kindly for McGrath. ‘Crusher’s’ shot was down into the ground and bounced up past Colquhoun into the corner.

Allen had a go himself eight minutes later as he lashed a volley at goal after good work by Smith, but it flew well over.

Chips captain Jordan Martin was presented with a glorious chance to equalise just after the hour as he was picked out unmarked in the six-yard box from a free-kick but he somehow manged to head it back across goal and well wide when he couldn’t have been better placed.

The visitors were threatening to level and Sterling-Parker dragged another shot across goal and wide after turning his man in the box.

Loaring should perhaps have doubled Guernsey’s lead a minute later has he pounced on a mistake and dashed through one-on-one, but Colquhoun stood up to hit and Loaring hit his shot straight at the stopper’s legs.

Addison made his best save yet on 72 minutes, flinging himself to his left to tip away Hasting’s curler after Alex Le Prevost had misjudged a header.

Luckily though, the home fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief soon after as Allen put clear daylight between the two sides.

This time is was the visiting keeper who came off worse when dashing out of his area. He thwarted McGrath, but the loose ball fell kindly for Allen to stroke it into an empty net from 20 yards out and end a seven-game goal drought.

Chipstead kept plugging away and hit the bar from Callum McLean’s free-kick. Addison also made one more save in stoppage-time as he pushed wide Sterling-Parker’s shot towards the near post.

That came shortly after Colquhoun had got down quickly to push wide Rihoy’s low shot after a one-two with substitute Glyn Dyer.

The result moved the Green Lions up to 18th in Ryman South ahead of two away games – the first of which at Whyteleafe is Allen’s last before he goes away.

The rest of the league’s midweek results were as follows: East Grinstead Town 2-7 Whyteleafe, Hythe Town 0-1 Dorking Wanderers, Sittingbourne 2-1 Corinthian-Casuals, Tooting & Mitcham United 4-3 Chatham Town.

Guernsey: Josh Addison, Simon Geall, Jamie Dodd ©, Alex Le Prevost, Matt Loaring, Josh Steel, Dave Rihoy, Kyle Smith (Tom De La Mare 61’), Dom Heaume, Ross Allen, Marc McGrath (Glyn Dyer 79’). Not used: Jordan Kelly, Thomas Dodds.

Goals: McGrath 46’, Allen 72’. Booked: Rihoy, McGrath.

Chipstead: Luke Colquhoun, Steve Betancourt, Dan Aldous (Josh Fuller 66’), David Graves (Jack Higgins 79’), Jordan Martin ©, Matthew Warren, Mario Quisaca (Esteban Salsado-Giraldo 56’), Callum McLean, Raheem Sterling-Parker, Rob Hastings, Chris O’Flaherty. Not used: Rob Kember, Tony Stone.

Booked: Sterling-Parker.