| GUERNSEY | 3 | – | 0 | EASTBOURNE UNITED |
| Patterson 6′ Fazakerley 60′ du Port 86′ |
Guernsey turned a potential banana skin into a routine win as they comfortably saw off in-form Eastbourne United at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Green Lions were solid as a rock at the back, negotiating an improving away side’s increased pressure and barely giving up a chance, while netting some lovely efforts at the other end.
Fin Patterson’s opener was a clinical finish and after substitute Will Fazakerley doubled the lead with his very first touch on the hour, Fin du Port’s stunner put the icing on the cake to seal the points late on.
Jamie Dodd also reached a proud milestone as he became only the second player after Matt Loaring to reach 400 games for the club.
Perhaps buoyed by the absence of Eastbourne in-form striker Charlie Hull (he was named as a substitute but didn’t appear to be one of the subs ready to go on the bench, so was perhaps injured in the warm-up), the Sarnians were happy to career forward at will with all the centre-backs keen to join attacks when the moment was right.
GFC almost scored straight from kick-off as they worked the ball down the right and Patterson’s cross shot was beaten away by Alex Hobden as far as Dodd, whose own effort was goalbound but cleared away from the six-yard box.
Within five minutes, Patterson had a better end result. He was picked out on the right corner of the area by a precise pass from Charlton Gauvain, was afforded enough space to shift inside then, with Hobden perhaps expecting a curler towards the far corner, rifled the ball in at the near post for the opener.
The Greens kept up the pressure and Ross Allen’s hook over the shoulder was cleared off the line after Jacob Fallaize had headed a corner back into the danger area.
The Whites (donned in fluorescent green for their visit), had only two chances of note in the whole game, both in the first half. One of them certainly should have led to an equaliser as the visitors broke down the right and Tyaw Wilson’s delivery was over Josh Addison to tee up Koby Farrell, who had drifted in from the left. He was right in front of a gaping net but blazed over from close range. Going straight up the other end via a high diagonal ball, Sam Murray found himself heading for the area but as he steadied himself, Hobden came out to smother.
Murray’s over-exuberance cost him a goal two minutes later as he intercepted a loose pass across the area. He was in on goal and had his choice of corner to pick out but opted for a cheeky chip and dinked the ball straight into Hobden’s arms.
After some initial composure on the ball, Gil Hunter showed a bit too much of it to Farrell to allow the number five to drive at goal from the angle, but his low shot towards the near post took a deflection off Addison and went behind. It would turn out to be the visitors’ final effort.
Allen nearly capitalised as a poor punch from Hobden allowed the hosts to keep up the pressure in the area. Allen hit the ball on the turn and the ball was inches away from curling in. On the half hour, Allen then nearly turned in a Gauvain free-kick to the near post but Hobden pushed it away.
The game was starting to calm down after the early flurry and Eastbourne improved a lot but could not find a way past a resolute defence. It was still the Lions looking more likely to extend their lead. In the minutes before half-time, Allen steered just over from outside the box, Fallaize’s bullet header from Gauvain’s corner drew an excellent reflex save from Hobden and Frazer Maginnis’ early shot was beaten away at the near post.
Eastbourne found another gear in the second half but the GFC defence were so solid that they were unable to force a meaningful effort in the second half. Despite being under pressure for the first 10-15 minutes it was GFC who carved out the best chance as Patterson found Allen on the right and the number 10 chopped inside onto his left foot before letting fly, only being denied finding the far corner by a brave diving header from a defender to divert the ball behind.
Fazakerley replaced Allen just before the hour and made an instant impact, scoring with his first touch right on the hour mark. He was in the right place to meet Gauvain’s corner six yards out and divert it into the net with his knee to bag his fifth goal of the season.
Callum Le Lacheur was soon brought on too and had a lively cameo. He nearly capitalised on a poor clearance from Hobden 25 yards out, but the ball didn’t bounce kindly enough for an early lob and he dragged his shot wide. He also steered wide with the outside of his boot as a ball was headed back into the box,
There were too many cooks at the far post when Gauvain collected Murray’s flick-on on the left wing and delivered to the far post, with three Greens going for the ball but none were able to force it over the lane and Hobden blocked.
Le Lacheur made up for his misses by setting up the third goal to clinch the points with four minutes left. He brought the ball forward down the left and skipped past two challenges before squaring for du Port. The Guernsey midfielder was afforded the room to tee up a shot from 25 yards and it was a belter – flying over Hobden and bouncing down off the crossbar and in.
There were more chances for a fourth in injury time but substitute George Goubert’s effort was smothered by Hobden after Eastbourne let the ball bounce more than once in the area, while du Port fired just over after good hassling by Gauvain on the edge of the box.
Job done – an excellent day’s work to negotiate a tricky test. Next, Tony Vance’s side seek revenge for an earlier defeat this season to Lingfield. The Green Lions remain third but have increased the gap on the teams and have the breathing space of a four point gap to the bottom of the play-off spots, also clawing back two points on runaway leaders Hawywards Heath Town.
Saturday’s full set of results in the Southern Combination Premier Division were as follows: Roffey 0-2 Lingfield, Horsham YM 2-2 Haywards Heath Town, Little Common P-P Lancing, Midhurst & Easebourne P-P Peacehaven & Telscombe, Pagham 2-2 Crawley Down Gatwick, Wick 2-3 Bexhill United.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 3 Jamie DODD; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY (25 Tyrese KELLY, 89′); 10 Ross ALLEN (c) (19 Will FAZAKERLEY, 59′); 12 Fin DU PORT; 16 Gil HUNTER; 18 Dave MERRIS; 22 Fin PATTERSON (20 George GOUBERT, 80′); 23 Frazer MAGINNIS (17 Callum LE LACHEUR, 61′); 24 Jacob FALLAIZE. Not used: 13 Seb SHEPPARD.
EASTBOURNE UNITED: 1 Alex HOBDEN; 2 Ollie HULL; 4 Dan HULL; 5 Koby FARRELL (17 Alfie GANDER, 90′); 6 Brett PATTON (3 Anthony THOMAS, 71′); 7 Tyaw WILSON; 8 Rhyle OVENDEN (c); 9 James HULL (19 Teddy LOFT, 89′); 12 Jake PRODGER (20 Mo HUCHU, 61′); 14 Jordan RAY. Not used: 10 Charlie BALL.
Booked: Thomas.
Attendance: 572.
