Goals: Loaring 74’; Young (pen) 87’; Pereira 90’ – Chalke 43’; Oyebola 81’.

Finally!

Guernsey finally broke their awful run in the most dramatic way possible as they turned defeat into three points in the final five minutes at Footes Lane.

The Green Lions had worked hard to get themselves level with Molesey in the second half but appeared to have undone their good work again when they fell behind again with less than 10 minutes to go.

But Craig Young kept his cool from the spot after Matt Loaring had gone to ground to win a penalty – a decision that was being debated long after the final whistle – with less than five on the clock, and Paris Pereira kept his cool to slot in a confidence-boosting winner he so desperately needed to send the Garenne Stand crowd home ecstatic.

It had looked like it was set to be another one of those nights typical of GFC’s season when they fell behind in the first half after missing some glorious chances.

But they battled on to finally draw level through Loaring in the second half before all the late drama.

It was an emotional start to the evening as Footes Lane rose for a minute’s applause to honour our superfan Ernie and other season-ticket holders who have sadly left us recently.

It was a positive start from the Sarnians as Young flicked Charlton Gauvain’s corner narrowly wide of the near post with his head and Loaring met Harry Tobin’s cross only to see the ball deflected wide in the first five minutes.

Dave Rihoy also drove forward and hit a low shot that skimmed in towards Moles’ keeper Liam Allen in the 12th minute.

It took over 20 minutes for the visitors to threaten as Ronald Sobowale brought down Ashley Lodge’s cross and dragged his shot wide from a good position.

Harry Tobin headed down into the grasp of Allen shortly before his brother Frank surprised everyone on his home debut by bursting forward from centre-back as far as the edge of the Molesey box but his low shot lacked power and was gathered by Allen.

Rihoy had a glorious chance just after half an hour as he drove forward from halfway and beat two men, opting to go alone rather than play in Loaring and Young and went one-one-one with Allen, but fired straight at the stopper instead to finding the net.

The number seven came close again as he darted in at the near post to beat Allen to Young’s cross but Dre Grobler got across to make a vital intervention.

Those openings were not taken advantage of and, same old story, GFC soon fell behind, and again it was a gift.

Callum Stanton scuffed a clearance when the ball was thrown back to him and it fell straight to Ross Chalke, who just had to keep his composure to curl the ball into an empty net from 20 yards.

Dariush Heravi planted a header well wide from point-blank range and Lodge narrowly cleared the crossbar as Molesey sought a second, but Guernsey finished the half strongly as two incidents of slick football led to chances for Young, who curled into Allen’s arms, and Rihoy, who’s firm shot from an acute angle was beaten away by the ‘keeper.

The Green Lions came out for the second half with the same positive mentality as the first and Frank Tobin lashed one in from 40 yards that forced Allen into a smart save, while brother Harry hit the side netting at the near post after good work from Rihoy and Loaring.

Chalke headed wide for Molesey after beating Thomas Dodds in the air at the far post, then the Moles number eight came close after miscommunication in the backline handed him an opening that he couldn’t capitalise on. Lodge also had Stanton scrambling with a low shot across goal that rolled wide.

Gauvain had a pop from range just before the hour that was comfortable for Allen and Loaring curled wide from a half-cleared corner as GFC kept pressing. Harry Tobin also ran on to an inch-perfect through ball but was leaning back on the stretch as he hit it and sent the ball just over.

The hosts were given another warning sign as Taylor Roles headed straight at Stanton from a good position. At the other end, Young’s shot was blocked and Rihoy leathered the rebound from range, with Allen throwing out an arm to make his best save of the match and divert the ball wide.

The resulting two corners finally led to the equaliser the Sarnians were searching for on 74 minutes. Loaring’s lack of luck in front of goal this season meant he needed any sort of goal, no matter how it came. It didn’t have to be pretty, but it was exactly the tonic that he needed as Frank Tobin’s blocked header dropped to him in the six-yard box and he lashed one high into the net from a yard out.

A winner for the Green Lions was now on the cards but they threw away that opportunity again on 81 minutes as they gave the ball away down their right. Substitute Tayo Oyebola met the resulting cross and looped an impressive finished into the top corner just out of reach of Stanton’s dive.

It looked to be another deflating result from Guernsey but they were about demonstrate real stubborn donkey spirit. Molesey were apoplectic at the referee’s decision to award a penalty as Loaring went to ground under the challenge of Roles on the left of the area. But it still had to be scored and captain for the night Young dealt with the pressure to drill the spot-kick low and hard into the net.

Tony Vance could have been forgiven for shutting up shop to hang on for just a fourth point of the season, but he encouraged his side to seek a winner, and that’s exactly what they did thanks to a player who perhaps needed a goal more than anyone else to give him a lift.

The game had entered its final regulation minute when Loaring flicked on Harry Tobin’s defensive clearance. Tom De La mare cushioned it over the Moles rearguard to Pereira, who was bearing down on goal.

He still had plenty to do but his pace allowed him to nick it past the onrushing Allen and composedly tuck the ball in from the edge of the box despite the efforts of two defenders sliding in to block. It sent the home fans into delirium and was the perfect tonic for all associated with Guernsey FC after such a torrid few weeks.

There were just a couple of minutes of stoppage time to see out now and Guernsey did it comfortably. The Green Lions had done it for Ernie.

The vital win moved Guernsey two places off the bottom ahead of a tough visit to Faversham Town on Saturday. 

The rest of the midweek Bostik South results were as follows: Chipstead 3-4 Carshalton Athletic, Corinthian-Casuals 5-0 South Park, Greenwich Borough 3-3 Walton Casuals, Herne Bay 3-0 Ashford United, Hythe Town 3-0 Faversham Town, Lewes 1-1 Whyteleafe, Phoenix Sports 2-3 Thamesmead Town.

Molesey: Liam Allen, Ryan David, Ato Okai, Craig Lewington ©, Taylor Roles, Dre Grobler, Joseph Camara, Ross Chalke, Ronald Sobowale (Tayo Oyebola HT), Dariush Heravi, Ashley Lodge. Not used: Tom Dean, Matt David, Sean Booth.

Booked: Roles.