| LINGFIELD | 2 | – | 1 | GUERNSEY |
| Cartwright 21′ Duah-Kessie 76′ | Maginnis 51′ |
Guernsey suffered a shock defeat at early strugglers Lingfield on Tuesday night, punished for failing to take their chances.
The Green Lions peppered the Lingers’ goal for much of the game but were either wasteful with their finishing or found Jack Webb-Olley in spectacular form. The home goalkeeper was perhaps the biggest reason for his side’s victory – including keeping out a Ross Allen penalty.
And despite Frazer Maginnis’s first goal for the club getting them back on level terms early in the second half, the Sarnians missed a further few openings and could recover again after former nemesis Jeff Duah-Kessie had put his side back in front.
After a strong start from Tony Vance’s side, the best opportunity fell to Maginnis, who had his follow up blocked after Jack Webb-Olley had kept out his initial effort.
The opener came from the hosts’ first clear chance. Reese Cartwright made no mistake after he met a cutback from Reece Jacobs.
Webb-Olley’s palms were kept warm by Allen and Fin du Port, while Seb Vance was off target when meeting a corner at the far post as the Lions sought a response.
Allen had a golden opportunity to level from the spot just after the half hour after Gauvain was put through by Maginnis and drew a foul from Webb-Olley. But the Lingers keeper guessed right and dived left to keep out the captain’s low spotkick.
The Greens did get the leveller they should have had much earlier with the second half only six minutes old, but it was scrappy. A cross from the left was kept in on the far side. Brandon Wallace’s initial effort was blocked but the loose ball dropped kindly for Maginnis to swivel and slot in his first for the club.
GFC kept up the pressure and should have turned the game around. Webb-Olley made another brilliant stop to deny Murray, who was then put through one on one but opted for the outside of his right foot rather than using his left and sent the ball wide.
Duah-Kessie is a name that resurfaces from the past, having previously been a thorn in Guernsey’s side in the Isthmian league. He returned to haunt the visitors with what would turn out to be the winner with a quarter of an hour left, punishing the Green Lions for not clearing a free-kick.
Despite seven minutes of injury time, Guernsey couldn’t force their way back into the game.
Maybe this is a harsh lesson for the Green Lions in not underestimating their opponents as both league defeats so far have been against teams in the lower reaches of the table. Perhaps their biggest test so far comes on Saturday as top-end challengers Newhaven come to Victoria Park.
The other Southern Combination Premier Division results were as follows: Bexhill United v Eastbourne United (playing Thursday), Forest Row 5-3 Crawley Down Gatwick, Haywards Heath Town 3-0 Horsham YM, Little Common P-P Seaford Town (floodlight failure), Midhurst & Easebourne 3-0 Wick, Newhaven 3-2 Shoreham, Pagham 6-0 Lancing, Roffey 1-1 Steyning Town.
LINGFIELD: 1 Jack WEBB-OLLEY; 2 Bailey NEIL-GRAY; 3 Gayni NGANGA; 4 Noah AGBINONE; 5 Conor WILFORD; 6 Jason STRIP; 7 Reece JACOBS; 8 David MEATON; 9 Jeff DUAH-KESSIE; 10 Reese CARTWRIGHT; 11 Lewis LEMBIKISA. Subs: 12 Stephen HODGE; 14 Gus WARD; 15 Matthew CHEESEMAN; 16 Hussein MOHAMMED; 17 Louie EROTOKRITOS STAUSSI.
Booked: Cheeseman.
GUERNSEY: 13 Jordan KELLY; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 4 Tom DODDS; 6 Seb VANCE; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Brandon WALLACE (19 Will FAZAKERLEY, 52′); 12 Fin DU PORT; 23 Frazer MAGINNIS (22 Fin PATTERSON, 75′); 24 Jacob FALLAIZE. Not used: 14 Simon ARNOLD.
Booked: du Port, Fazakerley.
Attendance: 31.
