Goals: Sollis 27’ – Loaring 37′.

Guernsey rediscovered the resilience that went walkabout for a few weeks as they held out to earn a valuable point against play-off chasing Hythe Town on Saturday.

Callum Stanton also rediscovered his best form, producing several key stops in a backs-to-the-wall defensive display as the Cannons launched a second-half barrage.

Unfortunately for the Green Lions, the three straight defeats prior to this draw, coupled with the sides below them picking up wins and reeling them in, means Tony Vance’s side are battling for Bostik South East survival and every point is precious – and this certainly was a precious point.

Hythe are on somewhat of a patchy spell themselves, having won just three of their dozen league games since beating the Sarnians in early December which has seen them slide out of the play-offs.

And perhaps that showed in a cagey opening, with little chances of note early on. Paris Pereira perhaps should have given his side the lead in the 10th minute as he was picked out in the middle by an inch-perfect low cross from Glyn Dyer, who in turn had been found by a raking high pass from Frank Tobin, but could only stab wide from six yards.

Thomas Carlton was similarly guilty four minutes later as he volleyed wide of the top corner from six yards when found by new signing Sam Sollis’ delivery from the right.

Tom De La Mare lifted over the top from outside the area, while last-ditch defending from Tobin kept out Zak Ansah from close-range and Stanton collected as Charlie Webster cut in from the left and shot low, all in the opening quarter. The Guernsey pair combined to snuff out another Ansah chance as he ran on to Ryan Palmer’s searching ball forward.

In their bid to claw back the gap to the top five, Hythe have brought in Carlton and Sam Sollis to boost their attack. The latter wasted no time in getting his second spell with the Cannons off to a flyer, literally, as his acrobatic scissor kick from Chris Kinnear’s cross evaded Stanton’s grasp and nestled in the far corner for the lead on 27 minutes.

With Hythe’s attack in the mood, it looked like it could be another afternoon of disappointment for Guernsey, but they got themselves level 10 minutes later thanks to a swift counter attack that was started by a Thomas Dodds clearance. Pereira collected the ball and set Will Fazakerley on his way down the right. He drove towards the area and picked out Canha to his left. The Portuguese lifted the ball perfectly into the path of the overlapping Matt Loaring, who tucked the ball past Tony Coxall into the far corner for his 13th of the season – a lovely team goal.

Joseph Taylor’s shot from the left side of the area was charged down by Jamie Dodd and Stanton collected a weak effort from Ansah before the break. Despite the odd wobble, Vance’s side could be satisfied with their work as they went in level at the break.

Hythe cranked up the pressure straight from the restart, though, with Stanton down quickly to deny Sollis at the near post.

A rare second-half sight of goal from Guernsey saw Liam Mahon pull a corner back for Dodds, whose shot from the edge curled just away from goal.

Two important blocks denied Sollis and Carlton from restoring their side’s lead and Ansah was inches away from getting his toe to a low delivery from the right, with Stanton holding Kieron Campbell’s rebound from the angle midway through the half.

The Guernsey stopper was having one of those days where he was getting to everything, next spreading himself to block with his legs at his near post as Ansah collected from Palmer and worked space for the shot. He then stood strong to block as Campbell ran onto Mitchell Dickenson’s slide-rule pass in the left channel and struck low, and pushed wide as Salvyn Kisitu pounced on a loose ball at the far post.

Ansah gave the Green Lions’ rearguard another scare with just under 20 minutes remaining as he hooked over his shoulder from a corner but his improvised effort dropped just wide.

Stanton produced his best stop of the lot on 77 minutes as Sollis’ knockdown fell kindly for Kisitu, who lashed the ball towards call only to see Stanton dive left and throw out an arm to keep it out.

GFC nearly broke to nick all three points in the final five minutes as substitute Seb Skillen motored forward after his side cleared a corner. Canha chased his pass down the left channel and it needed an inch-perfect challenge from Webster to prevent the Portuguese from bearing down on goal.

Fancy footwork from Campbell fashioned a chance for himself in the dying stages but this time Stanton held the powerful shot.

The Cannons had run out of ideas and the final whistle was a relief for the hard-working Guernsey defence who will hope that performance has put them back on track ahead of the visit of VCD Athletic to Footes Lane this weekend.

The Green Lions drop one place to 16th with the weekend’s other results as follows: Ashford United 0-2 Phoenix Sports, East Grinstead Town 2-1 Hastings United, Faversham Town 1-0 Whyteleafe, Haywards Heath Town 0-0 Greenwich Borough, Sevenoaks Town 1-1 Ramsgate, Three Bridges 1-5 Herne Bay, VCD Athletic 1-2 Sittingbourne, Whitstable Town 0-3 Horsham.

Hythe Town: Tony Coxall, Salvyn Kisitu, Joseph Taylor (Kieron Campbell 57’), Chris Kinnear (Jack Sammoutis 76’), Ollie Rowe, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer (Nigel Neita 90’), Thomas Carlton, Zak Ansah, Sid Sollis, Charlie Webster. Not used: Zach Fagan, Elliot Capel.

Booked: Sollis.