Goals: Galloway 54′; Mendoza 60′ – Gauvain 40′.

Guernsey saw their first half lead overturned at Imber Court on Saturday afternoon as hosts Metropolitan Police drew themselves clear of the Green Lions for the time being.

The Sarnians put up a good fight despite losing two players from their heart of their midfield, Tom Dodds and Kieran Mahon, less than 24 until the game, and led through a lovely Charlton Gauvain goal – his sixth in as many games – but were undone by two set pieces in the second half.

GFC looked dangerous and fluid in attack in the first half, with sighters from Ross Allen and Matt Loaring an example of their intent. Loaring was also incandescent at being shown a yellow card for diving in the box when he nicked the ball off a defender on the edge of the area and looked set to score before a challenge from Met Police goalkeeper Liam Beach brought him down.

Josh Addison saved well as a free-kick into the Guernsey box caused problems, while Beach held from Allen.

Shkyler Burrowes accelerated past Dodd but shot wide of the near post, then Addison saved well at full stretch to keep out an effort from outside the box.

Izvnns Ikebuasi’s cross caused problems at the far post but no one could turn it in, then Guernsey started to recapture the flowing passing that they started the half with, and their pressure led to the opening goal five minutes before half-time.

Dave Rihoy collected a Met Police header out from Loaring’s cross and laid it off for Gauvain. The number seven’s fabulous footwork saw him shuffle away from not one, not two, but three challenges as he advanced into the area, working enough space to poke the ball into the bottom corner, making him only the 10^th GFC player to reach 20 goals for the club.

Police got back on level terms nine minutes into the second half. They won a free-kick, hotly disputed by the penalised Niall Hainsworth, which Mason Galloway couldn’t have hit any better from the edge of the box to get it up and over the wall and past Addison.

Gauvain nearly put his side back in front with a free-kick of his own but just missed the target. Then Met Police turned the game round on the hour. There was an element of fortune about it as Ben Mendoza’s corner evaded everyone and flew straight in at the far post, completing a nightmare six minutes for the Green Lions.

Dave Merris nearly had similar luck four minutes later but the ball didn’t quite creep in at the near post.

A potential third for the hosts was ruled out by a late offside flag, and it was they who finished the game the stronger. Rihoy was forced to intervene to deny Galloway a second from Burrowes’ cutback, while another Mendoza corner struck the post.

Jamal Sharpe blew a golden chance to make the game safe deep into injury team, but Guernsey were already down to 10 men by that points as captain Jamie Dodd was given his marching orders for a foul as last man.

GFC dropped to 17^th in Isthmian South Central, with Saturday’s other results as follows: Ashford Town 0-1 Raynes Park Vale, Chipstead 1-2 Chertsey Town, Corinthian-Casuals 1-1 Southall, Hanworth Villa 1-0 Uxbridge, Hartley Wintney 2-1 Sutton Common Rovers, Leatherhead 0-2 Marlow, Northwood 4-1 Thatcham Town, South Park Reigate 2-1 Binfield, Westfield 1-1 Badshot Lea.

METROPOLITAN POLICE: 1 Liam BEACH; 2 Izvnna IKEBUASI; 3 Kjonte GILLFILLAN-WAUL; 4 Isaac NKOSI; 5 Laurence ERNEST; 6 Kynan KIRLEW-WRIGHT; 7 Benjamin MENDOZA (17 Ekow OWUSU-BOAKYE, 90+6’); 8 Rudy APPIAH-ALLEN; 9 Jamal ANDREW SHARPE; 10 Mason GALLOWAY (12 Charlie BROWN, 87’); 11 Shkyler BURROWES. Not used: 14 Alfie WATERS; 15 Noah AMISSAH; 16 Shekinah REID.

Booked: Mendoza, Galloway.