Goals: Pinnick 26′; Marshall 39′; Fitzgerald 48′.

Guernsey FC Women are yet to give their supporters a home win this season as they came out second best against AFC Stoneham at Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Green Lionesses failed to make the most of promising opportunities that came their way when the scoreline was in the balance.

That included a penalty spurned at 2-0 that would have got Anna Gauvain’s side back into the contest, and some good openings early on. The Sarnians faded after a bright start and a rally in the closing stages came too late.

An early tester from Stoneham captain Chloe Marshall, cutting in on her right foot, brought a good save from Queripel with her legs.

Calleigh Hedley then laid the ball off for Codie Le Flem and spun quickly to run onto the return ball that put her in behind. Unfortunately the angle was against her and her shot rolled wide across goal. Queripel than made another save from Marshall.

Hedley almost gave her side the lead on the quarter-hour, gambling on the mistake from the defence dealing with Queripel’s kick. Her low shot had Jade Collins scrambling and she sprawled to push it wide.

Queripel got a useful hand to an attempted lob from Lucy Bicknell to deflect it just wide, and the opener midway through the half came completely out of the blue.

Guernsey dealt well enough with a corner and cleared it out the area. The loose ball was bouncing as it was collected by Molly Pinnick, who tried her luck with a speculative lob from fully 30 yards out that dropped in just out of Queripel’s reach.

They nearly doubled it through a long-range effort from Chloe Marshall soon after but Queripel stretched out an arm to turn it wide.

Hedley took aim for the far post with a curler from outside the box but Collins was able to claim, but the visitors doubled their lead after 38 minutes as Marshall nipped in behind and beat the advancing Queripel to the ball, rounding the Guernsey keeper before slotting home.

The Green Lionesses were handed an instant opportunity to get back in it as the referee deemed Hedley’s cross to be blocked by an arm in the box. Unfortunately Candice Bougourd’s penalty bounced away off the left post.

Collins held again as Hedley came close with another lob and there was plenty for the Greens to take into the second half despite the scoreline.

But their bid to come out flying in the second half and get back in it lasted less than three minutes as indecisive defending allowed Eleanor Fitzgerald to slot home from the edge of the area.

Marshall got in behind and looked odds on to make it four but Queripel stood her ground well to divert the shot wide. The Stoneham captain should also have scored after 78 minutes as she got in behind but placed her shot wide as Queipel advanced on her.

Guernsey found another gear in the closing stages. A driving run took Bougourd all the way into the box but the angle was against her and Collins was able to hold the shot.

Substitute Eryn James then got on the end of a ball forward but the ball bounced up in front of her just as she put her foot through it and she lifted it over the bar.

James then brought one down for Amy Dallamore on the edge of the box but the shot was just wide.

With no other league games taking place this weekend, Guernsey dropped two places to 10th in the Southern Region Women’s Division One South table on goal difference.

AFC STONEHAM: 1 Jade COLLINS; 2 Molly PINNICK; 3 Tiegan STEVENS; 4 Sian BRADBEER; 5 Millie EVANS; 7 Chloe MARSHALL (c); 9 Scarlet DARNTON; 12 Rosina FOLKES; 15 Lucy BICKNELL; 20 Chelsea BATES; 24 Lucy KNIGHTENGALE. Subs (rolling): 8 Abbie AWDAS; 10 Eleanor FITZGERALD; 17 Abby CHOW; 18 Lena STROEM.

Booked: Marshall.