A youthful Guernsey side learned some valuable lessons as the Green Lions got their pre-season underway against Stansfeld at Corbet Field on Saturday afternoon.
Tony Vance’s side contained several debutants and teenagers who will have got their first taste of ‘English football’ and will be all the better for it, despite the 4-1 defeat.
GFC unfortunately lost Charlton Gauvain to an ankle injury early on – an ailment that means he will likely miss the trip to the Isle of Man next week – after the midfielder danced his way towards the Stansfeld box and was brought down. Liam Mahon hit the resulting free-kick into the wall.
Jason Martin was quickly out of his goal to deny Greg Skinner on nine minutes after the visiting left back had been played through down the left channel.
The Southern Counties East League Premier Division side took the lead on 18 minutes. The referee ignored appeals for what look like a foul on Joe Alvarez, and the visitors knocked it forward. Martin got in a mix-up with Tom Vaudin as he came racing out of his goal to clear, allowing Rob Hughes to take advantage of the confusion and roll the ball into the empty net.
Five minutes later, Martin made a great reaction save down to his right to keep out Tommy Whitnell’s volley.
Keene Domaille should have put the Green Lions level 10 minutes before half-time as he was put through on goal by Sam Murray’s flick-on. He opened up to aim for the far post but placed his shot wide. Just moments later, Domaille fired just over the bar after a neat team move down the left.
Guernsey enjoyed the best of the quarter-hour following the break but could not find a goal. Alvarez headed over Robbie Legg’s cross from the left wing, then Stansfeld stopper Charlie Cottrell parried a fierce drive from outside the box from Kieran Mahon, who had been teed up by Domaille at a free-kick.
Whitnell almost found the net to double his side’s lead just after the hour, but Martin blocked with his legs. Instead, the forward’s team-mate Sam Jeal took the honours, steering in from the resulting corner.
It was three with just under 15 minutes to play as Macey Malyon was put through and drove a shot past Martin before a brief rally from the Green Lions in the closing stages.
Tyler McKane’s delicious whipped cross from the right was headed over by Murray, and just three minutes later, the Sarnians got a reward for their efforts.
Murray timed his run perfectly to meet Liam Mahon’s through ball and bore down on goal, but instead of opting to shoot past Cottrell, squared it for Glenn Le Tissier to run onto and tap into an empty net. There was still time for one more from the visitors as Jack Keen received the ball on the left of the box, worked a bit of space and fired past Martin.
It was a good run out for 17 of the squad who have trained over the summer, many of whom will likely head of the Isle of Man for the Skipton Cup next weekend. Vance also has several key players due to return before the start of the season.
Guernsey: 1 Jason Martin; 2 George McNeela (15 Robbie Legg, HT); 3 Ben Solway (12 Tyler McKane, 64’); 4 Thomas Dodds (18 Seb Vance, 66’); 5 Tom Vaudin; 6 Kieran Mahon (c); 7 Charlton Gauvain (14’ Jake Lowe, 7’); 8 Liam Mahon; 9 Sam Murray; 10 Keene Domaille (16 Glenn Le Tissier, 63’); 11 Joe Alvarez (17 Brandon Wallace, 66’).
Goal: Le Tissier 81’.
Stansfeld: 1 Charlie Cottrell; 2 Sam Smith; 3 Greg Skinner; 4 Greg Summersby; 5 Billy Shinners; 6 Dan Park; 7 Billy Park; 8 Ryan Fowler; 9 Rob Hughes; 10 Tommy Whitnell; 11 Macey Malyon. Subs used: 12 Joe Borland; 14 Sam Jeal; 15 Billy Hook; 16 Harrison English; 17 Jack Keen.
Goals: Hughes 9’; Jeal 63’; Malyon 76’; Keen 86’.