Goals: Day 26′ – Loaring 5′, pen 52′; Gauvain 65′.

Guernsey continued their promising form and broke their duck against Ashford Town at the fifth attempt with an excellent performance on the road on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Loaring (into double figures for the season and now just four shy of a century) and Charlton Gauvain (on a hot streak scoring for the fifth game in a row) led the charge once against as the Green Lions increased their margin to the relegation zone to 13 points and brought the teams directly above them well within their sights.

Tony Vance couldn’t have wished for a better start from his side as Loaring netting inside five minutes. The visitors out to the right, Dave Rihoy whipped in a cross that Ashford keeper Harry Cant spilled into the path of Loaring, who buried from close range.

Owen Wallbridge fired straight at Cant inside 15 minutes and Loaring met another Rihoy cross only to volley over midway through the half.

Two minutes later, the visitors were level. Ben Holder picked up a cutback from Kingsley Eshun, and his low ball into the box was diverted into the top corner by Scott Day.

Qasim Khan headed over for the hosts, while Loaring forced another save from Cant after Ben Solway’s drive forward and cutback. Shortly before the break, Gauvain created another chance for Loaring with some fine footwork, but this time the effort cleared the crossbar.

The Sarnians started the second half as brightly as the first and again were in front early. Gauvain was again the architect as he dribbled into the box and got a shove in the back from Day which sent him sprawling. Cant had saved two penalties in midweek to help his side to a point against Ascot United, but he couldn’t make it three in a row as Loaring put the spot-kick right in the corner to his right.

Less than 15 minutes later, it was 3-1 as Cant’s clearance was intercepted and Gauvain ran onto the header with the Ashford defence napping. Cant didn’t get to it fast enough and the Guernsey number seven knocked it over his head before running around him to apply the finishing touch from a yard out.

Guernsey were able to bring on some fresh legs in the latter stages, with Tom Dodds’ return from suspension a welcome sight.

A thoroughly professional job from the Green Lions, with three goals away from home in the absence of in-form Ross Allen.

Guernsey were one of just two teams in the bottom half to pick up three points, and so while they were unable to move up the table no matter what the result, they are now within one win of 14^th place with games in hand. Saturday’s other results were as follows: Chipstead 0-0 Badshot Lea, Corinthian-Casuals 1-3 Thatcham Town, Hanworth Villa 2-2 Ascot United, Hartley Wintney 1-4 Binfield, Leatherhead 4-0 Uxbridge, Metropolitan Police 0-1 Chertsey Town, Northwood 2-2 Raynes Park Vale, South Park Reigate 3-1 Southall, Westfield 1-1 Sutton Common Rovers.

ASHFORD TOWN: 13 Harry CANT; 2 Scott DAY (16 Kai ZINI, 65’); 3 Sam SESAY; 4 Sam HUMPHREYS; 5 Aaron GOODE; 6 Prince KANDOLO; 7 Kingsley ESHUN; 8 Jack SMITH; 9 Qasim KHAN; 10 Ben HOLDER: 11 Connor YOUNG (14 Deven REID-SOLANKI, 69’). Not used: 15 Alex STINGELIN; 17 Jack ARNOLD.

Booked: Day, Humphreys, Holder.