Goals: Hedley 6’ – Cutler 25’ 36’; Humphrey (pen) 49’; Harris-Walters 90+3’.

No matter what the result, Wednesday night was an unqualified success as Guernsey FC Women played their first ever game on home soil in front of a packed Garenne Stand at Footes Lane.

The Green Lionesses were optimistic of a good crowd on their home debut in the Combined Counties Women’s Cup third round, but they surely couldn’t have imagined more than 700 cheering them on – the biggest attendance for a football match at Footes Lane this season.

And they were treated to a fine start as Calleigh Hedley’s spectacular lob sent them wild after just five minutes, her 20th goal for the club in just 12 appearances.

But Sutton United are perhaps the best team the Sarnians have faced, certainly several levels above what they have become used to in the Jersey league this season. They turned it round before half-time, got themselves breathing space from the penalty spot early in the second half and rounded it off in injury time as a tiring home side took risks in search of a way back into the game.

Sutton were perhaps caught a little cold by Guernsey’s fast start, and they could have easily added to their sixth minute opener. That came from great work by Elise Le Lacheur on the right wing as she nutmegged her marker and drove forward form her own half. She fizzed the ball into the feet of Hedley who turned on the edge of the D and curled a delicious lob over Sutton keeper Mya Francis-Pownell, with the ball kissing the underside of the crossbar on its way to bouncing over the line.

Hedley came close to a second on 12 minutes as Codie Le Flem clipped in a cross. Hedley’s first effort was blocked by a defender, and her second parried away by Francis-Pownell.

Hedley return the favour three minutes later as she swept the ball out to the left for Le Flem, who drove into the box and drew a save from Francis-Pownell at her near post.

The visitors levelled the tie on 25 minutes as a ball from midfield into the right channel set Milly Cutler away and she drove the ball under Kayleigh Marquis into the far corner from just inside the box.

Hedley took advantage of Ella Meehan dallying on the ball in defence, pinching it and driving at goal, but a covering defender slid in to block the shot.

But the visitors had overcome their shaky start and were into their stride now. They turned the game around on 36 minutes, with Cutler bundling her second over the line at the far post after a scramble at a corner.

Captain Candice Bougourd’s free-kick drifted wide and Hedley drove forward and saw another effort saved by Francis-Pownell before the break, and the Green Lionesses started the second half in a similar fast fashion to the first, with Hedley driving just over from the edge of the box.

But the Sutton put themselves fully in the driving seat before the half was five minutes old as Bougourd’s loose pass was pounced upon by Cutler. She was clipped as she drove into the box and Beth Humphrey tucked the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.

Emma Queripel was kept busy in the Guernsey goal having come on at half-time, rushing out several times to make important interceptions and blocks. The one time she was beaten to the ball, Bougourd was there to block the shot.

Querpiel also saved well with her legs to keep out a rebound after K’Shaela Burch-Waldron had rattled the post.

A tiring Guernsey refused to give up and came close to forcing an exciting end. A shot from Chloe Ingrouille, whose fancy footwork was a joy to watch all evening as she skipped past challenge after challenge, fired just past the far post from the edge of the box, while Le Flem cut in a drew and save from Francis-Powell.

The clinching goal came deep into injury time with Guernsey pushing players forward with nothing to lost. Eden Clark’s header set Amelia Halawi through, but she unselfishly squared for Ilana Harris-Walters to tap in the fourth.

Anna Gauvain’s side gave a great account of themselves and will only benefit from this steep learning curve. Hopefully the fans will be enticed to come and support their team in their four home games to finish the season, during which they will surely be confirming the league title, as well as inspiring a future generation of female players.

SUTTON UNITED: 32 Mya FRANCIS-POWNELL; 2 Sophie MODAK (c); 3 Ella MEEHAN; 5 Beth HUMPHREY; 7 Gabby BUDDLE-SMITH; 8 Jaz BACKHURST; 9 Milly CUTLER; 11 Eden CLARK; 13 Tessa ALLEN; 14 Toni-ANNE BUSSEY; 25 Emma SPEAR. Subs used (rolling): 6 Caitlin SAVAGE; 21 K’Shaela BURCH-WALDRON; 22 Ilanna HARRIS-WALTERS; 51 Chloe CONNELLEY; 52 Amelia HALAWI.