Goals: Millbank (pen) 6′; Alfie Paxman 29′; Oliver Gray 43′.

One of Guernsey’s poorest first halves in memory brought about a deserved defeat to Ramsgate, who were gifted their goals and barely had to get out of second gear on Saturday afternoon.

High spirits surrounded Footes Lane after a positive previous seven days with two strong performances and results on the road. But that optimism was quickly extinguished.

The Green Lions struggled to put passes together, were second to the ball and did not look up for it despite the mood being buoyant leading up to the fixture.

They showed more fight in the second half and created a few chances but never really looked like they would spring a comeback.

It started off badly, with Paris Pereira’s poor backpass being seized on Aaron Millbank. He was felled as he tried to get past Thomas Dodds and tucked the resulting spot-kick into the bottom corner inside six minutes.

Craig Young had space in the box but fired over in the 10th minute after GFC had recycled possession in a rare spell of pressure in the first half, with Daniel Lawrence’s shot deflected wide at the other end three minutes later. Millbank also dragged wide from a promising position when he should have found the back of the net.

The Sarnians gifted the Rams their second with indecision in the backline just inside the half-hour mark. Jordan Kelly back-pedalled after realising he would not beat the attacker to a through ball, and the ball was eventually centred to an unmarked Alfie Paxman who was able to roll into an empty net.

Pereira came close to halving the deficit and bringing his side back into the tie but, after nutmegging George Crimmen, was denied by a fantastic block tackle from visiting captain Joe Kane.

Kelly got behind a strong Millbank shot to divert it wide two minutes before the break, but Oliver Gray rose to head in the resulting corner and it looked game over before half-time.

Millbank threatened again eight minutes minutes after the interval when he beat Kelly to a cross with a diving header, but it flew wide.

Tony Vance had made a double change at half-time to inject some life into his side and Matt Loaring’s introduction was a positive one as Guernsey improved – but not enough to give the home fans a goal to cheer.

Dom Heaume had the best chance as Loaring’s cross from the right found him on the far corner of the six-yard box, but dragged his low shot wide of the near post. Robbie Legg then fired a powerful effort wide after being found by Young.

Millbank threatened with two more efforts shortly after the hour, first clipping the top of the bar with a free-kick and then firing another straight at Kelly.

Heaume leaped highest to meet a GFC corner but headed wide on 77 minutes. Millbank should then have buried a chance at the other end after turning Simon Geall, but was guilty of the miss of the match as he lifted it well over from point-black range.

Loaring threw himself at the ball when Heaume had headed down a Rihoy cross, but could not quite stretch far enough to get a meaningful touch and Watkins was able to see it behind for a corner.

Young and Rihoy were both off target within a minute of each other as the minutes ticked down. But Ramsgate, who had well and truly taken their foot off the gas, could have added salt to the wound with a fourth in stoppage-time.

Geall had tried to block Millbank off from getting onto a through ball but ended up letting him through. The striker evaded the challenge of Kelly and fired at goal but Geall redeemed himself by getting back to clear off the line, with Rihoy’s follow-up tackle clearing the danger.

Definitely an afternoon to forget for the Green Lions, but it was a mighty letdown to undo all the good work done in the two previous away games.

The other Ryman South results were as follows: Carshalton Athletic 5-1 Horsham, Chatham Town 1-1 Three Bridges, East Grinstead Town 3-0 Molesey, Faversham Town 5-1 Walton Casuals, Greenwich Borough 1-1 Dorking Wanderers, Herne Bay 1-4 Tooting & Mitcham United, Hythe Town 2-0 Godalming Town, Lewes 2-1 Chipstead, Sittingbourne 0-4 Cray Wanderers, Whyteleafe 0-1 Corinthian-Casuals.

Ramsgate: Mike Watkins, Jake MacKenzie (Luke Wheatley 84′), Jack Penny, Joe Kane (c), George Crimmen, Oliver Gray, Tom Chapman, Macaulay Murray (Jacob Mensah 90+5′), Aaron Millbank, Daniel Lawrence (Tom Hickman 80′), Alfie Paxman. Not used: Tom Roberts, Jake Murray.

Booked: Murray.