Jack Griffin wrote his name into the Guernsey FC record books as the club’s youngest-ever scorer after bagging what proved to be the winning goal on his dream debut in the Green Lions’ opening day win against Westfield.

Sixteen-year-old forward Griffin, who only became old enough to train with the squad in July, needed just eight minutes of senior football to find the back of the net, running onto a pass from Charlton Gauvain – who went on to score a points-clinching third – to turn the game around after a man at the other end of his GFC career, Ross Allen, had levelled the scores.

Griffin has gone from a fan idolising Tom Dodds and a one-time matchday mascot to the latest youngster to catch the eye at Footes Lane. His integration will be handled with care by the management, but it is exciting for Tony Vance to have another attacking option.

It was a great start to the season for Guernsey, but they had to wait until the final 20 minutes to turn it around. In a bright opening, Allen was denied at the near post by Sonny Wheeler after Gauvain and Tom Dodds had combined to tee him up. Wheeler kept out Gauvain’s header from the resulting corner and Matt Loaring was unable to turn the ball home in the scramble.

However it was the visitors who took the lead on the counter-attack on 11 minutes. Jake Baxter’s first-time pass helped the ball on to Didi Ndombe, who timed his run from his own half to get in behind the defence, drive forward and slot under Josh Addison from seven yards.

GFC were undeterred and shot have levelled when Will Fazakerley delivered from out wide into the path of Allen, who sliced his effort wide at the far post. A free-kick from Gauvain then flew narrowly over the top. The lively midfielder then came close to catching out Wheeler, who had sliced out of play under pressure from Fazakerley, with a quick throw. He received the ball back from Loaring on the touchline but Wheeler just got back in time to turn away his curler towards the far post. A couple more feet in height and it would have been a spectacular strike.

Jacob Fallaize had Addison to thank for keeping out Jake Baxter on 68 minutes after the centre-back underhit backpass put the prolific forward through on goal.

That moment proved to be so key as the Green Lions went from nearly out the game to level just three minutes later. Gauvain rose to head Dave Rihoy’s free-kick towards the six yard box and Allen nicked around the back to help it under Wheeler and register his 285^th goal for the club. Three hundred must surely be in his sights this season.

Griffin replaced Fazakerley within moments for a change in dimension up front and he soon became the hero. The Green Lions moved the ball nicely from left to right through Gauvain, Allen, Tom Vaudin and Tom Dodds. Taking the ball back from Dodds, Vaudin then found Gauvain in the centre-circle, who accelerated away from his man before picking out the run of Griffin, who ran onto it and drilled it first time into the near corner from the edge of the box. Such was his excitement that he accidentally managed to barge over a Westfield defender in his celebration.

Not to be outdone, Gauvain capped off a fine performance with the clincher, his acrobatic overhead kick looping in after Joe Alvarez throw had been headed up in the air.

Frustratingly, the Green Lions can’t build on this momentum quickly as they have to wait two weeks for their next outing, a new opponent in Ascot United, but maybe Vance will see it as a chance to ensure his side don’t get carried away by the perfect start.

The other opening-day weekend results in Isthmian South Central were as follows: Ashford Town 6-0 Binfield, Badshot Lea 0-4 South Park, Chertsey Town 2-1 Hanworth Villa, Chipstead 6-2 Hartley Wintney, Leatherhead 2-1 Southall, Marlow 0-1 Thatcham Town, Metropolitan Police 0-4 Sutton Common Rovers, Northwood 4-0 Corinthian-Casuals, Raynes Park Vale 3-2 Ascot United.

Westfield: 1 Sonny Wheeler; 2 Aidan King; 3 Billy Nutbeam; 4 Lewis Jackson; 5 Luke Elliott; 6 Quincy Rowe; 7 Mayowa Adaje; 9 Jake Baxter; 10 Andrew Crossley; 11 Didi Ndombe (16 Junior (Edmundo) Da Cruz, 63′); 12 Caleb Wright. (Not used: 8 Jacob Breckon; 14 Manolis Gogonas; 15 Theo White; 17 Ian Selley.