Goals: Gallagher 8’; Mazzone 90+2’ – Loaring 74’.

A deserved point was cruelly snatched away from Guernsey in the dying seconds at King George’s Field on Tuesday night after the Green Lions outplayed South Park for much of the contest.

Tony Vance’s side had to deal with early pressure in both halves but got themselves on top on both occasions. Matt Loaring’s leveller was well deserved on 74 minutes and the Sarnians were looking far more likely to get a winner as their hosts just about clung on before nicking a 92nd-minute winner through Jack Mazzone.

That goal ended GFC’s five-game unbeaten streak away from home – a run stretching back from January. It was undeserved but the Green Lions have plenty of positives to take into the final home match of the season against Phoenix Sports on Sunday.

The Sparks nearly drew first blood inside four minutes as Mazzone shifted the ball onto his left foot from the edge of the area and his shot struck the foot of Callum Stanton’s left-hand post.

They didn’t have to wait long, though, as just eight minutes into the game, Mazzone got free in the left channel and squared for Josh Gallagher to slot home from the edge of the box. A shaky start from the Sarnians.

Mazzone hooked a speculative effort from the corner of the area on 18 minutes but it bounced comfortably into Stanton, with an off-balance Dave Rihoy firing well over moments later from 25 yards at the other end.

Guernsey were looking much more dangerous when they kept the ball down and passed it around. Vance’s side got better and better as the half wore on, with Harry Tobin’s shot across goal from just outside the area bouncing awkwardly in front of Tom Miles, who spilled it but was able to get a vital touch to nick it away as Rihoy hunted down the rebound.

Miles then produced a great reaction stop with five minutes left in the half, diving to his left to parry behind as Paris Pereira collected Tobin’s low cross and shot on the turn through a crowd of bodies.

More of the same in the second half would surely bring a deserved leveller for the Sarnians, but the hosts began this period the same way they did the first, with Stanton required to block at his near post as Mazzone tried to sweep in a low cross. Mazzone scuffed at the Guernsey stopper two minutes later after miss-control from Black allowed Lavery to tee up the number 10 in the box.

In between that, Loaring’s cross-come-shot was slightly overhit and curled wide, and he was to be involved in two more great chances for Guernsey in the following minutes. First, he and Pereira both threw themselves at Skillen low cross but neither was able to get anything on it to help it over the line as it flashed across goal. Loaring then took down Keanu Marsh’s cross and turned in the area but found Miles in the way at the near post.

Skillen was guilty to missing the best chance of the lot so far just after the hour. Rihoy and Loaring exchanged crossfield passes and Rihoy drove a low cross in from the right that Skillen just had to help in at the far post, but he went for power and blazed it over.

Vance sensed his side had their hosts on the ropes and instructed his players to push forward and pressure South Park’s backline.

Guernsey were knocking on the door and Miles would deny them again before they were finally able to unpick the lock. Le Prevost rose highest to meet a high free-kick from out wide by Ryan-Zico Black, pictured. It bounced towards the corner but Miles got down to turn the ball behind.

The resulting corner finally gave the Green Lions their reward. Again, it was Black’s delivery causing problems and Jamie Dodd leapt at the far post to head it back across goal, where Le Prevost got a flick and Loaring was well placed to turn in his third goal of the season.

You could have forgiven Vance’s side for shutting up shop at that point to hold on for a well-earned point. But justifiably, they felt there was a winner in it for them, and they so nearly got it just moments later as Black’s curling, dipping free-kick from 30 yards had Miles beaten but struck the crossbar. Le Prevost got his head to the rebound as the ball bounced up but it looped into the arms of the grateful Miles.

Zico nearly got on the end of Rihoy’s low centre as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, but was tackled the moment he looked to pull the trigger.

Skillen let fly from range after meeting Black’s pulled-back corner on 82 minutes but the ball cannoned off a defender up in the air and was eventually cleared.

The Sparks were clinging on, but there was a rare scare at the other end as a static Guernsey defence allowed an in-swinging free-kick to bounce at the far post but neither of the players coming in at the far post were able to get the all-important touch and it bounced harmlessly behind.

Stanton fielded a bouncer after Joe McElligott had cut in off the right channel and tried his luck from range, and the game looked like it was headed for a draw as it ticked into stoppage time.

Guernsey were still pressing for the winner, but had one final home attack to see away in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, Mazzone lost his marker and got his head to McElligott’s right-wing cross and send it past Stanton.

The hosts dealt with one final delivery into the box and couldn’t believe their luck at the final whistle. Vance admitted afterwards that he was ‘gutted’ but also proud of the tremendous effort put in by his side, who probably deserved all three points, let alone one.

GFC remain 18th in Bostik South, with the other Tuesday night results as follows: Molesey 0-0 Herne Bay, Ramsgate 0-2 Carshalton Athletic, Shoreham 0-2 Walton Casuals, Sittingbourne 2-2 Thamesmead Town.

South Park: Tom Miles, James McElligott, Dean Lovegrove, Luke Elliott, Dylan Merchant, Nathan Ayling, Tom Windsor, Josh Gallagher, Kieran Lavery (c) (Chris Smith 72’), Jack Mazzone, Dan Moody. Not used: Chris Smith, Daniel Stone, Ben Senior, Sam Renfry.

Booked: Gallagher.