Goals: Fallaize 21’; Allen (pen) 54’; Fazakerley 84‘.

Guernsey turned in an excellent away performance to close the gap on Thatcham Town to just a point in Isthmian South Central on Saturday afternoon.

The Green Lions earned just their third clean sheet of the season, helped massively by a penalty save from Lucas Hanley, and shared the goals around to put themselves in amongst the midtable pack.

The Sarnians, overseen by Colin Fallaize and Steve Sharman with Tony Vance absent, contained their hosts and were clinical at the right times.

The Kingfishers spent most of the first half in Guernsey territory but rarely forced Lucas Hanley into action. They set up camp in the Sarnian half in the opening quarter hour, but the only real talking point came on nine minutes as a Thatcham corner ended up in the visitors’ net without a touch, but the referee ruled it out due to a foul on the Guernsey stopper. Guernsey broke quickly and Ross Allen went down in the box, but the penalty appeals were waved away.

Dangerous work down the left 15 minutes in led to Will Fazakerley knocking the ball down for Allen, but his tame shot was saved, shortly before Fazakerley was teed up in a good position but hit the side netting.

The visitors’ momentum was building and they took the lead in front of a sizeable travelling support after 20 minutes. Charlton Gauvain’s trickery drew a foul on the right from Rohart-Brown. Kieran Mahon swung the free-kick in from the right touchline and Jacob Fallaize rose to meet it at the far post, planting the header past Jack Hopwood.

Thatcham came back again and Lamin Ceesay fired a free-kick well over after Fallaize was deemed to have tripped Taylor Harry.

Guernsey got away with one was Rohart-Brown delivered a dangerous in-swinging free-kick form the right. Hanley misread it and the ball was flicked towards goal, but luckily it bounced of the post.

Thatcham should have got back on level terms five minutes before the break as Tinashe Gwavava when down on the right side of the area under a challenge from Ben Le Tocq. Harry spotted the ball but Hanley guessed correctly, diving to his right to push it away.

Daniel Fosu had the first chance of the second half for the hosts as he drove into the penalty area five minutes in, but he blazed high and wide under pressure from Jamie Dodd.

The Green Lions doubled their lead 10 minutes in. Dodd’s long through caused havoc in the six-yard box. Allen missed the ball as he swung a leg, but Fallaize was clumsily chopped down as he tried to keep the chance alive. There was little complaint when the penalty was awarded and Allen marked his return by tucking it in the right corner.

Substitute Jazz Oreet Wallace skewed well wide from distances as Thatcham sought another response but the Green Lions had a good degree of control by this point. Fazakerley was denied by a block with little over 15 minutes remaining after good work by Gauvain down the right as Guernsey sought a third. Nathan Jones also should have done better after a slip from Keanu Marsh, but the midfielder sliced wide.

Moments later, Guernsey wrapped it up. Substitute Seb Skillen burst past his marker towards the right byline and pulled the ball back. Fellow replacement Matt Loaring’s effort was saved but it dropped kindly for Fazakerley to roll in the rebound from close range with Hopwood stranded.

Tooting & Mitcham United’s defeat to Ashford Town also meant that GFC moved up a place to 15^th, their highest position this season to date. Saturday’s other results were as follows: Basingstoke Town 0-1 Bracknell Town; Binfield 1-1 Sutton Common Rovers; Chalfont St Peter 1-2 Hanwell Town; Chipstead 1-1 Uxbridge; Marlow 0-3 Chertsey Town; Northwood 0-0 Bedfont Sports; South Park 0-0 Staines Town; Tooting & Mitcham United 0-1 Ashford Town.

Thatcham Town: 1 Jack Hopwood; 2 Tinashe Gwavava (15 Alex Miller, 69’); 3 Cameron Rohart-Brown; 4 Nathan Jones; 5 Josh Edwards (c); 6 Bradley Passfield; 7 Lamin Ceesay; 8 Harvey Harry (16 Jazz Oreet Wallace, 56’); 9 Simeon Weekes; 10 Daniel Fosu (14 Lamar Koroma, 76’); 11 Taylor Harry. Not used: 12 Carl Jenner; 17 Kai Stubbs.

Booked: Jones.