As 0-0 stalemates go, this was a pretty exciting one, but more frustration for Guernsey as they were unable to capitalise on numerous excellent chances to make it four games without a goal.

Visitors Whyteafe couldn’t live with the Green Lions at times in the first half, but Tony Vance’s side could not make their openings count.

But it was another game against top opposition where the Sarnians will feel they came out of it the better side, which shows the strides the team has made this season.

Ross Allen’s pinpoint free-kick forced Tyler McCarthy to tip over his own crossbar early on, while Harry Tobin’s strike from the edge of the area skimmed across goal and wide as the left-back opted for the early shot.

Matt Loaring came as close as anyone in the first half, his first chance coming after Alex Scott’s excellent slotted ball down the left teed Harry Tobin up for the cross. Loaring met it in the middle but couldn’t get the shot away at the first attempt. As the ball bounced up six yards out, it drifted just out of his reach and he could only toepoke it straight at McCarthy.

Charlton Gauvain, who ran the show from midfield, rose highest to meet a corner midway through the half but headed over, just moments before he volleyed over the top when well placed to connect with a lovely dinked ball from Scott. Gauvain then showed his value at the other end as he got back to make a timely sliding block as Corey Andrews looked to pull the trigger 10 yards out.

Scott may or may not have played his last game for the club, depending on if Bristol City allow him to be available for the Green Lions next week. If it was to be his last appearance, he nearly signed off in style just before the half-hour as he met Jamie Dodd’s header from a set-piece, almost flicking it into the top corner but McCarthy got to it again.

One of Guernsey’s best moves of the game should have led to an opener as Loaring’s inch perfect though ball picked out Allen in the right channel. Allen opted to cut in onto his left rather than fire a low delivery across goal, but his shot was blocked by McCarthy. Loaring got to the rebound first but couldn’t get the ball out his feet quick enough and by the time he did take the shot, a defender had got back to the goal-line to block.

Frank Tobin lobbed a half-volley comfortably over the top shortly before the break, and there was optimism going into the second half mixed with a slight concern that the Sarnians would regret their profligacy and suffer another Whitstable, who suckerpunched Guernsey with two second-half goals earlier this month.

Whyteleafe certainly showed more intent, having looked in the first half like they were happy to grind out a 0-0. Callum Stanton saw a free-kick float wide from joint league top scorer Ronald Sobowale, who then blazed wide just inside the area after Dodd and Tom Strawbridge had misjudged a high ball.

Antonio Walker-Barth’s low ball across goal flashed just wide after a good advantage from the referee, while Stanton’s first meaningful save of the game saw him deny Junior Akhionbare from point-blank range after the forward turned at the far post to work himself a shot.

The home fans were desperate to see Scott net on his possible Footes Lane farewell, and he had GFC’s best chance of the second half. He beat his man to Dodd’s diagonal ball towards the box and worked himself space to shoot, but sliced wide with his left foot.

Sobowale had Stanton scrambling on 74 minutes from the edge of the area, but the ball rolled just wide of the left post.

Dodd then almost turned a cross into his own net, but Stanton was alert to prevent the ball trickling in at his near post.

Zahui Orome lifted well over from range and Martin Sontan’s low shot was deflected just wide at the death, but if that had snuck in it would have been so cruel on a Guernsey side that has come on leaps and bounds this season.

The Green Lions moved up to sixth in Isthmian South East with Saturday’s other result as follows: Chichester City 2-2 Burgess Hill Town, Haywards Heath Town 2-2 Whitehawk, Sittingbourne 7-0 Ramsgate.

Whyteleafe: Tyler McCarthy, Ricardo Thompson, Matthew O’Donoghue, Jamie McGeoghegan, Lesley Duru, Corie Holder (Zahui Orome 22’), Corey Andrews (Martin Sontan 87’), Antonio Hamilton, Junior Aikhionbare, Antonio Walker-Barth (Izzy Adebayo 90+2’), Ronaldo Sobowale. Not used: Mason Saunders-Henry.

Booked: McGeoghegan, Hamilton, Aikhionbare.