Goals: Rihoy 30′; Allen 83′ – Richardson 13′, 54′; Wisson 76′; Embery 90′.

Despite impressing in the first half, Guernsey’s vulnerability from set pieces proved costly as their three game unbeaten run was ended by Herne Bay.

Tony Vance named an unchanged squad and starting eleven, and the Green Lions started the game very brightly. Their first chance came in the 5th minute when Charlton Gauvain picked out Tom De La Mare on the right wing, whose low cross just evaded the onrushing Ross Allen.

Allen almost had another chance just moments later, though visiting captain Jonathan Richardson did well to deny him a shooting opportunity with a last ditch challenge.

The home side had the ball in the net in the 8th minute, as Frank Tobin stabbed home a Craig Young free kick, but referee Tristan Greaves spotted a foul as the ball was played in.

Guernsey continued to pile on the pressure, with Allen almost capitalising on a defensive error and forcing a good save out of Benjamin Hunter, before firing over the bar from the resulting corner.

Despite their dominance of the opening stages, the Green Lions fell behind in the 14th minute when Richardson rose highest to head home a corner for the visitors.

Two minutes later Tobin embarked on a run down the right hand side, he played a great one-two with Ross Allen before flashing a dangerous delivery across Hunter’s goalmouth. Dave Rihoy came close but could not make contact with the ball.

Thomas Dodds tried his luck from 25 yards out in the 19th minute, but Hunter was at full stretch to deny him.

The next ten minutes passed by without any clear cut chances for either side, before a classy backheel from Allen teed up Rihoy who finished powerfully past Hunter to equalise in the 31st minute.

Ten minutes later, on-loan Guernsey goalkeeper Will Dennis picked up a knock when coming out of his area to clear. Play stopped for him to receive treatment, however with the Green Lions not having a substitute ‘keeper on the bench, he continued despite his injury and saw out the final few minutes before half time.

Dennis remained in goal for the second half, seemingly shaking off his injury and moving more freely as the game went on.

However, he was picking the ball out of the net just nine minutes into the half, as centre-half Richardson scored his second from a corner, this time firing home at the near post.

Herne Bay looked dangerous for the next ten minutes; Dennis saved well from Jake Embery before the resulting corner found Danny Rumbol at the far post who struck wide.

Richardson then connected with another corner, which Dennis tipped over the crossbar.

Guernsey made their first change of the day with Paris Pereira replacing the yellow-carded Glyn Dyer.

They came close to levelling moments later when a long free kick was knocked down by Allen, and De La Mare struck a firm effort with the outside of his boot which was tipped wide.

Kieran Mahon replaced skipper Craig Young in the 65th minute, with Jamie Dodd taking the captain’s armband.

Pereira almost found the net shortly after being introduced. Another trademark Frank Tobin run upfield was ended by a visiting defender, and the ball bounced favourably for the young forward who couldn’t keep his shot below the crossbar.

Robbie Legg replaced Charlton Gauvain in the home side’s final change, before Rihoy got in behind the Herne Bay right back and fired across goal for Pereira whose close range shot was saved by Hunter.

However, despite Guernsey’s attacking efforts they were undone by a corner for the third time. This time the delivery reached Joshua Wisson at the far post, who nodded past Dennis to make the score 1-3 in the 77th minute.

The Green Lions responded six minutes later. Dodd fired forward a free kick from his own half, De La Mare did well to knock the ball down for Allen, who was brought down by Stevenson for a penalty. Allen made no mistake from the spot; Hunter guessed the right way, but couldn’t reach the shot as it arrowed into the top right corner.

They then pushed hard for an equaliser, with Allen shooting just high and wide from long range, and goalkeeper Dennis coming up for a late corner.

However, the visitors caught Guernsey on the break moments later, as Embury raced through on goal and having been denied first by Dennis and then by Dodds, tucked the ball into the back of the net.

The final whistle came moments later, consigning Guernsey to a first defeat since their loss to Lewes exactly a month ago.

Herne Bay: Benjamin Hunter, Joshua Wisson, Raphe Brown, Danny Rumbol (Jack Steventon), Jonathan Richardson (C), Bradley Schafer (Jardel Bunda-Kamara), Alex Mulrooney-Skinner (Sami Mezaine), Thomas Carlton, Jake Embery, Connor Cox, Nassim Dukali. Not used: Tyler Myers, Jack Hyslop

Booked: Carlton, Brown