Goals: Landais 54’, 57’; Chapman 88′.

Guernsey’s old midweek away woes returned in swift fashion as East Grinstead Town completed what was a fairly comfortable 3-0 win on Tuesday night.

The Green Lions held their own until half-time, but the stalemate didn’t last long as the Wasps stung them with two quick goals 10 minutes after the restart. A brief rally proved fruitless and the Sussex side put the icing on the cake late on.

Positives for GFC, though, included the return of Harry Tobin and minutes for promising teenager Miles Hardill. It was certainly a night to learn from for Tony Vance’s young side, with average age of just 22 – one of the club’s youngest ever squads – and no players in their 30s. Jamie Dodd was the most senior player at 29.

Two low strikes early on from outside the area, both from Jorday Mongoy, were easily fielded by Callum Stanton. George Landais also saw a close-range effort blocked but he was being well marshalled.

Frank Tobin produced the Green Lions’ first effort as he strode forward and had a pop, but the ball bounced into Sheikh Ceesay.

A forward forage by Matt Loaring created space for Paris Pereira to have a pop from range. The ball dipped, but not quite in time as it flew over. A good 15 minutes went by before he had the next opportunity of the game as a long throw was flicked his way but he couldn’t get a telling touch as he span to hit it.

Shortly after the half-hour, Leo Mazzone game Stanton a scare with an angle drive that sat up nicely, only for the ball to fizz narrowly high and wide.

Mongoy threatened twice more towards the end of the half, first seeing a header at the far post bounced harmlessly into Stanton, then mishit a low shot for Stanton to field after cutting into the box.

The hosts were cranking up the pressure as the half neared its end, with Orlando Smith’s effort form the edge also looping just over with Stanton beaten. That came moments after Jamie Dodd had got back onto his line to block a low belter from Alexander Rose.

The Wasps came out for the second half with a higher tempo and Landais was handed a chance on a plate when unmarked on the far post as he met across but he nodded wide – an absolute sitter.

Landais made amends 10 minutes into the half, though, as he outfought Guernsey’s centre-backs for the ball just inside the area. He snatched at the shot as he spun but the ball took a slight deflection out of Stanton’s reach and rolled in into the corner.

One should have been two just a moment later as Smith shot across the box. Stanton blocked and Landais tried to turn it in from little over a yard out but somehow Dodd got the block in on the line.

But that was merely delaying the inevitable as Landais got his second less than minutes after his opener, lashing in from just inside the area, in too much space as the ball was pulled back to him.

Harry Tobin was introduced 20 minutes into the second half for Keanu Marsh and almost scored with his first touch on his return, meeting his brother Frank’s knockdown from a free-kick but the ball bounced into the grateful arms of Ceesay.

The Green Lions were finally starting to shot some threat going forward, with Fazakerley  hitting the target with a potshot and Tom De La Mare scuffing through to Ceesay.

Guernsey’s best chance of the half, and probably the game, came with less than 15 minutes to go after some neat football down the left between Harry Tobin and Pereira, who found Loaring in the box. The midfielder shot early but Ceesay managed to get fingertips on it to help it over the bar. The resulting corner eventually found Harry Tobin on the stretch but his header looped onto the roof of the net.

There was still danger the break though, with Dodd being required to block from Smith just inside the area.

Guernsey brief attacking flame had flickered out though, and East Grinstead added to their visitors’ misery with two minutes to go, although it came against from the Sarnians failing to clear their lines. Matt Loaring had the ball pinched off him on the edge and Mitchell Chapman lashed in the third.

Overall it was a disappointing night from Vance’s men, who never really got going or looked like they would make a real impact on the match as they dropped to 16th in Bostik South East, leapfrogged by their opponents.

Tuesday night’s other results were as follows: Ashford United 1-1 Sittingbourne, Hastings United 2-0 Horsham, Haywards Heath Town 2-0 Three Bridges, Hythe Town 5-4 Faversham Town, Phoenix Sports 3-2 Greenwich Borough, Ramsgate 4-5 Herne Bay, Whitstable Town 1-1 Sevenoaks Town.

East Grinstead Town: Sheikh Ceesay, Ollie Boulding, Alexander Rose, Michael Wilson (Jack Bray 87’), Callum Emptage, Ryan Johnson, Leo Mazzone, Mitchell Chapman, George Landais, Orlando Smith (Ashley Everett 89’), Jorday Mongoy (O’Shaye Giraud-Hutchinson 88’). Not used: Steven Sargent, Andrew Cooney.

Booked: Emptage, Boulding.