Goals: House 22′; O’Toole 90+2′ – Skillen 74′.

Guernsey were stunned by a stoppage-time sickener at Culver Road to see a promising point snatched away by Horsham at the death.

Two defensive errors handed the Hornets their two strikes, the second coming from Rob O’Toole in the 92nd minute.

Seb Skillen’s second goal from the club with a quarter-hour remaining looked like it had been enough for a well-earned point, with the Green Lions even threatening to nab a winner themselves before they were suckerpunched.

Guernsey started brightly enough but lost their way somewhat after the opening goal, which came from a defensive slip by Sam Cochrane midway through the first half.

The Sarnians created the first opening of the encounter within three minutes after some neat football led to Thomas Dodds teeing up Skillen, whose low shot was comfortably held by Josh James. Bournemouth loanee Callum Stanton was called into action for the first time five minutes later with a similar save from Darren Budd.

Tom De La Mare found himself in space on the edge of the box on the quarter-hour mark from Harry Tobin’s low corner pullback but he flashed his shot high and wide when well placed. Stanton held from Toby House a minute later after an error from Dodds had let him in.

Ross Allen’s first sniff at goal came soon after as he attempted to connect with Tobin’s low left-wing cross at the near post, but couldn’t make get a significant touch to help it across goal and it went wide.

Stanton then atoned for his own error as his slip presented a chance for O’Toole but he made a low stop with his legs. His best save of the game so far arrived on 20 minutes when he flung himself to his right to fingertip Darren Boswell’s curler over the bar.

It was not a stalemate for much longer however as House was gifted the opener on 22 minutes. Cochrane miss-controlled the ball, allowing the forward to pinch the ball off him, advance on goal and tuck the ball past Stanton, undoing all the Sarnians’ good work so far.

That goal rocked Tony Vance’s side, who seemed to retreat into their shells somewhat for the next 15 minutes or so, although De La Mare was presented with another opportunity when James’ clearance was charged down – but the Hornets defence threw themselves in the way to block his shot.

Matt Axell looped a powerful volley well over just before that and Stanton got down easily to hold a low free-kick. House was also put through by a lucky bounce but Stanton stood his ground to prevent a clean effort on goal.

Michael Waller and Matt Loaring traded efforts, both bouncing wide, before the Green Lions came the closest they had so far to snatching an equaliser moments before the break. Allen’s good footwork earned his side a corner and Tobin’s delivery was pinpoint, finding the head of Cochrane. The defender planted it towards goal and the net seemed destined to bulge had it not been for James throwing out an arm to make a fantastic reaction block.

The second half started in explosive fashion with several openings in the first five minutes. Skillen found Allen on the left but De La Mare couldn’t quite get on the end of the cross to the far post.

Stanton also stuck out a hand to divert a cross from the left byline that ended up floating towards goal. The referee signaled a goal-kick as the ball had gone behind before the cross anyway, but a good stop none-the-less.

Allen had a glorious opportunity to level after being put through by Angus Mackay’s superb raking diagonal pass. He opted to try and round James rather than shoot early. He managed it but was forced slightly too far wide and off balance, enabling two defenders to get back on the line and make the vital block. Another Mackay delivery found Matt Loaring, whose hooked shot was a good height for James to hold, with Boswell shooting low and wide at the other end on the counter.

Everyone thought the Hornets had doubled their lead 10 minutes in as Waller met a left-wing cross with his head, but his effort thumped the foot of the post.

Stanton was alert to keep his side in it just after the hour mark, blocking from House after the number nine became the beneficiary of a ricochet in the box.

Allen hit a bouncing ball towards goal as the game entered the final 20 minutes, but he was forced to strike it early and it rose well over the bar.

The Green Lions were finally growing back into the contest and were rewarded with a leveller in the 74th minute.

Simon Geall’s hooked ball forward found De La Mare on the byline. He forced his way past his marker to send the ball in low towards the near post. Skillen arrived in the nick of time to poke it across goal into the far corner of the net.

The sides traded efforts in the closing exchanges but it looked as though the Green Lions were just shading it.

Geall made a crucial block to divert Boswell’s shot behind, with Charlie Farmer’s header from the resulting corner flying narrowly over.

Kyle Smith was presented with a great chance to win it on 82 minutes as Loaring pulled the ball back to him on the edge of the six-yard box, but two defenders threw themselves in the way to block the effort.

Stanton helped O’Toole’s deflected effort behind, and Darren Budd smashed a rebound wide having seen his initial free-kick hit the wall.

It looked as though Guernsey were set to earn a point for their efforts before the 92nd minute suckerpunch.

It was another gift as substitute Alex Le Prevost, still lacking sharpness after a long absence due to injury, scuffed his clearance. Budd picked up the loose ball and delivered an inch-perfect pass for O’Toole to finish low past Stanton from the angle.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Green Lions, compounded by a head injury to Allen in the dying seconds as he drew blood challenging James for a high ball from Mackay as Guernsey launched the ball into the box one last time. Seventeen-year-old Zac Felbabel replaced him to make a very brief debut.

There was still time for Stanton to save one more time from substitute Jack Newhouse but Guernsey were left frustrated as they slipped to a third straight defeat and just one win from their opening four games to leave us 18th in the table.

The rest of the Bostik South results were as follows: Chipstead 1-2 Whyteleafe, Corinthian-Casuals 2-4 Carshalton Athletic, Faversham Town 0-3 Herne Bay, Greenwich Borough 3-0 Phoenix Sports, Hastings United 1-2 Lewes, Hythe Town 4-1 Ramsgate, Molesey 1-2 Walton Casuals, Shoreham 0-3 Cray Wanderers, Sittingbourne 0-0 Ashford United, South Park 3-1 East Grinstead Town, VCD Athletic 3-1 Thamesmead Town.

Horsham: Josh James, Adam Hunt, Steve Metcalf, Darren Budd (c), Charlie Farmer, Lewis Hyde, Matt Axell, Michael Waller (Tom Lawley 58′), Rob O’Toole, Toby House (Jack Newhouse 89′), Darren Boswell (Jack Hartley 89′). Not used: Chris Breach, Andy McCarthy.

Booked: Farmer.