Goals: Morgan 38’; Chapman 40’, Adesite 55’ – Fazakerley 33’, 59’; Legg 90+6′ (pen).

Guernsey came back from two goals down to snatch a point at the death and get their season off to a positive start at Faversham Town.

Ross Allen’s return dominated the headlines in the build-up to the season, but his fellow strikers Will Fazakerley and Robbie Legg did the business this time round to remind everyone that they also have a key role to play this season.

Fazakerley opened the scoring – coolly grabbing the Green Lions’ first goal of the campaign as he did last season, and then spectacularly halved the deficit after his side had conceded two quickfire goals shortly before the break and then another 10 minutes into the second half. Legg then came off the bench and showed nerves of steel in the 96th minute to convert a penalty after Paris Pereira had been fouled.

It marked the first time ever that the Sarnians have drawn their opening fixtures of a campaign and will give Tony Vance’s side a positive mindset heading into Tuesday’s match at East Grinstead Town.

A cagey opening saw the hosts shade the possession, although Kieran Mahon had the first effort on target of the game as he fizzed a shot narrowly off-target from outside the area, while Callum Stanton was called into action for the first time inside 10 minutes as he beat a shot away at his near post after Anthony Adesite had burst down the right channel into the area.

Loaring scuffed wide from just outside the area following a corner midway through the half, while Faversham should have led two minutes later, but Matthew Bourne somehow headed over from six yards with the goal gaping as a corner bounced in front of him.

Having been sloppy in possession early on, the Green Lions improved and began to impose themselves on the game. A bit of pressure down the left saw the ball half-cleared to Thomas Dodds, who scooped his 25-yarder comfortably wide.

The visitors were building though, and got their noses in front on the counter attack on 33 minutes. Liam Mahon won the ball back in his own half and released Allen. Guernsey were attacking two on two and Allen picked the perfect moment to slide in Fazakerley, who bore down on goal and stroked the ball coolly past Lilywhites stopper Luke Watkins from the edge of the area.

Going behind did not deter Faversham, though, and Mitchell Chapman’s strong header from a left-wing cross was kept out by the reflexes of Stanton, who turned it behind for a corner that would lead to a quick equaliser. Adesite met the delivery, rising to head against the crossbar. Max Morgan reacted quickest to collect the rebound and drove the ball low through a crowd of bodies into the far corner.

The hosts turned the game on its head just two minutes later. This time, Mitchell Chapman was the beneficiary of a rebound, finishing at the far post after Stanton had saved Morgan’s initial effort from close range. Chapman had actually started the move, driving forward and teeing up Makhosini Khanye for a low cross before continuing his run.

Faversham came out with the intent of finishing the game off early in the second half, as Morgan headed downwards into Stanton’s grasp within a minute.

Guernsey’s first chance came five minutes in as Frank Tobin picked out brother Harry on the left, and the latter sent in a teasing cross that Loaring met but failed to connect properly with and the ball went spinning away.

The Green Lions were hit on the counter on 55 minutes to go further behind. Faversham cleared a corner and broke down the left. Chapman kept the ball away from Dodd and teed up Khanye for a low cross that was bundled in at the near post by Adesite.

The game looked to be slipping away, but in seeking an immediate response, Fazakerley collected the ball at the far post and shot from the angle but could only find the side netting.

His next effort was a little more spectacular, and got Guernsey back into the game. Loaring’s ball out to the left found Harry Tobin, whose low ball across the box eventually found its way, via Allen and Dodds, to Fazakerley, who hit a first-time left-footed shot that looped over Watkins into the top corner – a wonderful finish.

Guernsey had found a new lease of life and still had half-an-hour to find an equaliser. Loaring dragged wide from distance on the hour and a series of chances came and went for Fazakerley in the closing stages. A dipper from outside the area that was fielded by Watkins was followed by two efforts that flew high and wide as he struck on the turn, both times hindered by an awkward bounce.

Substitute Jack Sellens had two chances in the final few minutes to steal the points, the first from distance through a crowd of bodies that was fielded by Stanton. He was then the beneficiary of a clearance that ricocheted into his path and he drove across the box, but his attempt to steer the ball into the bottom corner lacked power and Stanton gathered.

That was Guernsey’s lifeline, and there was still just enough time to probe for an equaliser to complete an unlikely comeback. In the final minute of added-on time, substitute Paris Pereira ran onto Harry Tobin’s ball down the line and bundled past Joshua Dorling and Sellens. As he got into the area, he drew a clumsy challenge from Dorling and was brought to the floor. The hosts could have no complaints as the referee pointed to the spot.

But there was still plenty to do. Legg had been out for 18 months with a serious knee injury and his entrance in place of Ross Allen on 68 minutes was his first competitive action for GFC since. But he took responsibility in a pressure situation and kept his cool to send Watkins the wrong way in the 96th minute for his 10th goal for the club and an unlikely point.

The rest of the BetVictor South East opening weekend results were as follows: Burgess Hill Town 7-2 Hythe Town, Cray Valley PM 0-0 Hastings United, East Grinstead Town 1-2 Haywards Heath Town, Phoenix Sports 1-2 Ashford United, Ramsgate 1-2 Chichester City, Three Bridges 0-1 Sevenoaks Town, Whitehawk 3-2 VCD Athletic, Whitstable Town 1-1 Sittingbourne, Whyteleafe 2-2 Herne Bay.

Faversham Town: Luke Watkins, Joshua Dorling, Jamie Maxted, James Miles (Robert Lawrence 87’), Matthew Bourne, Ryan Huckle, Michael Freiter, Mitchell Chapman, Max Morgan (Jack Sellens 89’), Anthony Adesite, Makhosini Khanye. Not used: Steven Mills, Donvieve Jones, Harry Earls.

Booked: Freiter, Adesite, Chapman.