Goal: Ajakaiye (3’) – Loaring (pen) 32’.

Be honest – you didn’t look at the fixture list in December and expect Guernsey to come away from their first four fixtures of 2019 – all away from home against teams above them – unbeaten did you?

Well, that’s just what they have done, the latest battling draw coming against promotion hopefuls Hastings United at the Pilot Field, where they have been put to the sword convincingly over the past few years.

The Arrows may have finished the game with nine men, but they were still a formidable force going forward and the Green Lions had to ride their luck a little but will see this as an excellent point that keeps up momentum and high spirits ahead of an important clash with East Grinstead Town on Wednesday.

Tony Vance’s side recovered from a shaky start and early setback to level through Matt Loaring’s penalty – his 12th of the season which means he has already matched the total that would have won the golden boot for the past two seasons – and had one or two moments themselves in the closing stages despite being on the back foot.

The Pilot Field was covered in a layer of snow in the morning, but credit to the Hastings ground staff for clearing it – with the help of some rain the night before and sun in the morning – enough to ensure the game would go ahead.

It was all looking bleak inside four minutes, though, as Guernsey gifted their hosts a throw-in, allowing Ollie Black to loop a high one into the area. The purple-shirted Green Lions failed to clear their lines and hotshot Daniel Ajakaiye thumped the ball home from close range.

A quick break down the left for the hosts a couple of minutes later saw Ajakaiye centre for Jordy Mongoy but the forward miss-controlled and diverted the ball wide. Callum Stanton was also forced to punch a whipped corner off his goal-line and Sam Adams skewed well high and wide in the opening stages.

Guernsey’s first chance came as the excellent Paris Pereira out-muscled Adams and then drew a foul as he burst forward, but Will Fazakerley’s free-kick was poor as it went straight into the wall. Canha then put in a low centre from the right towards Fazakerley but the big forward was only able to scuff the ball wide via a deflection off Jahmal Howlett-Mundle.

Stanton had to be alert to deal with a bouncer from Dixon on 21 minutes, then Cruttwell fired wide of the near post after good work from Mongoy on the edge of the area. The latter then saw his shot from 18 yards loop over via a deflection from Jamie Dodd and Jamie Fielding lost his balance six-yards out when a pullback was fired into him, with the ball ballooning high up and out of play.

Guernsey’s reprieve came on the half-hour mark after Fazakerley held onto the ball well and released Pereira on the right. Pereira danced past Black and as he entered the area, drew a trip from Cruttwell to win a penalty. The responsibility once again fell to Loaring, who calmly dispatched the ball to Charlie Horlock’s right for the equaliser.

That suddenly put the wind in the visitors’ sails and Canha’s rising drive flashed over the crossbar from 20 yards after Glyn Dyer’s teasing delivery was only half-cleared.

Ajakaiye threatened to restore his side’s lead shortly before the break as he burst past four players but Stanton got behind the shot. Mongoy then brushed the side netting at the near post from 10 yards out.

A final promising opening in the half from Guernsey came from more good work from Pereira down the right touchline but his ball back to Liam Mahon on the edge of the area was slightly behind the midfielder and the chance was snuffed out.

The Arrows were straight back on it from the restart, though, with Mongoy scuffing just wide from close range. Another long throw from Black caused problems as the ball dropped to Howlett-Mundle six yards out but Stanton stood his ground to make a brilliant save with his legs – his best of the afternoon.

The game could have had a major turning point just before the hour as Black was given a second yellow for catching Pereira at knee height having stuck his leg out and missed the ball. Mahon delivered the resulting free-kick and Fazakerley leapt to get a powerful head to it that was held by Horlock, with Loaring also coming close to getting a touch to divert it past him.

Guernsey couldn’t believe their luck when just a few minutes later, the hosts were reduced to nine as Jack Dixon lunged studs first at the leg of Mahon having already caught Pereira. He protested anyway, but Dixon could have no complaints at a straight red for a dangerous challenge.

Despite the two-man advantage, it didn’t exactly get easier for the Sarnians. Tony Vance admitted afterwards that his side perhaps got over-excited and erratic, trying too quickly to get the ball forward when they had plenty of time to exploit the space. It meant for poor passing and gaps at the back, which Hastings’ talented forward line were keen to exploit.

Cruttwell sent Stanton scrambling to his left at a free-kick that flew just wide, then struck the wall with an effort from a similar position less than 10 minutes later. Hastings recycled the ball and crossed from the right but Howlett-Mundle hooked over from close range.

A deflection took a curled effort from Ajakaiye comfortably wide and Cruttwell luckily miss-hit a shot straight into a defender after Jamie Dodd had carelessly given the ball away. At the other end, Horlock was just about alert enough to rush out his goal to beat Fazakerley to the ball after it looked as though the striker was through.

Guernsey were still shaky at the back but were able to create chances bursting forward. Pereira was put though by an excellent switch out to the right wing by Dodd but the midfielder was forced wide and his shot was gathered at the near post by Horlock as the game approached stoppage-time.

The Green Lions opted for a long throw of their own in the dying moments as Dodd’s delivery was flicked on as far as substitute Keanu Marsh at the far post. The full-back drove the ball at goal but Horlock stood strong to beat it away.

It was hard to know who was the happier side as the final whistle went but It was an important point for the islanders who are now six unbeaten away from home.

We moved up to 13th in Bostik South East with the rest of Saturday’s results as follows: Ashford United 2-1 Sevenoaks Town, Cray Wanderers 6-0 Herne Bay, Hythe Town 1-0 Three Bridges, Phoenix Sports 3-4 Sittingbourne, Ramsgate 3-1 Greenwich Borough.

Hastings United: Charlie Horlock, Ollie Black, Temi Eweka, Jamie Fielding, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Sam Cruttwell (Tom Climpson 85’), Adam Lovatt, Daniel Ajakaiye (Charlie Curran 90’), Jordy Mongoy (Youssouf Bamba 74’), Sam Adams, Jack Dixon. Not used: Antonio Walker-Barth, Finnley Page.

Booked: Black. Sent off: Black, Dixon.