Goals: Le Prevost 11’ – Adams 35′.

Guernsey and Hastings United were closely matched in a battle that was no less intriguing for its lack of clear-cut chances at Footes Lane on Saturday.

A long overdue goal from Alex Le Prevost early doors was cancelled out by Arrows skipper Sam Adams in an evenly-matched clash that became the first draw in 11 meetings between the sides.

The fact the game became stretched towards the end as both sides sought all three points made for a tense ending, and both sides came close to stealing a winner.

Tony Vance’s side may have equalled their longest run without victory in all competitions (13 games), but this draw meant just one defeat in five and a step in the right direction as the Green Lions improve their performances towards a win in the near future.

Fans could be forgiven for expecting a dogged defensive display from the Sarnians given the fact that they have been beaten by the Sussex side in the last five encounters between the pair and that Hastings sat in a strong position in ninth in Bostik South, but Vance sent his side out with a positive mindset. Within five minutes, Charlton Gauvain scooped towards goal from 25 yards, with the ball bouncing into the arms of Charlie Horlock.

They remained in the ascendancy and led in the 11th minute. A corner from the left found Jacob Fallaize at the far post, who should have buried his header from close range but completely misjudged it and sent it back into the mixer. Jamie Dodd and Harry Tobin kept it alive and it fell kindly for Le Prevost in the six-yard box to help it into the back of the net.

GFC remained on the front for and Kelechi Akpobire’s quick shot from outside the box was deflected wide within the quarter-hour mark.

The visitors had been flustered early on, making mistakes with basic passes and close control as they were closely hustled by the Green Lions. But they finally got on the front foot midway through the half and created three openings that required saves from Callum Stanton.

The first came on 19 minutes when the Guernsey defence were guilty of not playing to the whistle when they wanted an offside. Left-back Sam Beale had dashed through down the left channel into the area and shot early towards the near post, but Stanton got down to block.

Two minutes later, miscommunication between Le Prevost and Dodd allowed Adams no nip between them and go one-on-one. He had space and time to take it closer to goal but opted from the early shot from just outside the area, but it was straight and Stanton, who got behind it to block.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Sam Cruttwell let fly out of the blue from all of 25 yards out, but it was, again, straight at Stanton who fell on it to hold.

The fine lines of football were in full evidence on 35 minutes as the Green Lions went from potentially doubling their lead to being pegged back instantly.

Matt Loaring won the ball back well in midfield and drove forward before slotting a pass through for Akpobire to run at goal. Unfortunately, the pass forced the Bristol City loanee slightly wider than he would have wanted and rather then hit a low shot across goal, he was slightly off balance and hit it high towards the near post where Horlock was able to block.

The chance was gone and Hastings were able to clear and go on the counter-attack. The took the ball down the right and a low cross was not dealt with, leading to a mini scramble before Adams was able to get the decisive touch to scuff the ball in at the far post.

Guernsey might have got themselves back in front five minutes before half-time as Akpobire knocked down Loaring’s cross from the left, but Paris Pereira snatched at the ball when well placed and dragged it wide.

The second half was fair light on goalmouth action in the opening stage and it took until midway through the period for a decent chance to emerge. It took a brave block from Le Prevost, who threw himself at the ball to block Davide Rodari’s rising strike from the middle of the area.

Substitute Frank Tobin tried his luck from the right corner of the area at the other end on 76 minutes but it cannoned off a defender and went wide.

GFC had started to drop deeper as the half went on but three substitutions and a tweak in formation saw them get a good foothold.

The last 10 minutes were the most exciting of the half as the game became more end-to-end with both teams sensing there was a winner it for them.

Stanton had his hands kept warm by a stinging shot from range from Cruttwell, which despite being straight at the stopper, the power of it meant he could only divert it away rather than hold. Three minutes later, Dodd made a vital block to block from Hastings top scorer and substitute Callum Davies.

Guernsey’s best chance to nick all three came on 87 minutes when substitute Ryan-Zico Black hooked a brilliant ball over the top for Rihoy. The forward brought it down and shuffled onto his left foot, hitting the ball early from the edge of the area. It looked as though it was going to sneak in at the near post after the ball had evaded Horlock’s effort to stop it, but it struck the side netting agonisingly wide of the near post.

From nearly winning it, the Green Lions came within a whisker of losing it when substitute Antonio Walker sent in a cross from the left that Jack Dixon met with his head, but to the relief of the Garenne stand, he glanced it a whisker past the far post.

In the end a point was fair, and Vance will consider the result another step in the right direction.

The Green Lions remain 20th in Bostik South, with the rest of the weekend results as follows: Ashford United 2-1 Cray Wanderers, Carshalton Athletic 2-1 Thamesmead Town, Corinthian-Casuals 3-1 Sittingbourne, Greenwich Borough 1-0 Chipstead, Hythe Town 1-1 Horsham, Phoenix Sports 2-4 Lewes, Ramsgate 2-1 Molesey, Shoreham 0-1 VCD Athletic, South Park 1-1 Faversham Town, Whyteleafe 3-2 Walton Casuals.

Hastings United: Charlie Horlock, Ollie Rowe, Sam Beale, Adam Lovatt (Callum Davies 78’), Sinn’Kaye Christie, Tom Climpson (Antonio Walker 71’), Davide Rodari, Jack Dixon, Sam Adams (c), Sam Cruttwell, Dayshonne Golding. Not used: Bradley Pritchard, Ansu Janneh, Jordan Harley. 

Booked: Rodari.