| GUERNSEY FC WOMEN | 1 | – | 4 | AFC VARSITY |
| Smith 90+2 | Ryan 25′ Rayat 29′ Ebert 51′ Paine 58′ |
Guernsey FC Women suffered a double blow in each half in falling defeat to AFC Varsity at Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon.
4-1 was a harsh scoreline on the Green Lionsesses, who had a lot of the ball during the game and carved out some good chances, but their visitors were more clinical with the opportunities presented to them.
The Sarnians were short on squad depth due to injury, illness and holidays so their options to change the game were limited. Those who were involved kept going right to the end and their consolation was deserved.
Aimee Ogier volleyed over at the far post from a corner early on and Heidi Dawber’s neat footwork earned her space to shoot from an angle but Lottie Tough beat it away.
Codie Le Flem was well placed at the far post to meet a useful cross from the right but couldn’t connect.
Despite their promising start, Anna Gauvain’s side were two down inside half an hour. For the first on 25 minutes, Sofia Ryan charged down Alana Hockey’s clearance and tapped into an empty net. Four minutes later, a through ball from Varsity’s half split the Guernsey defence and Gurinder Rayat ran clear to dink past Hockey.
Captain Candice Bougourd forced a save from Tough as she took aim for the top corner from distance, while Le Flem should have pulled on back before half time after Ruby Smith’s clever dummy from Dawber’s square delivery put her clear, but the number seven dragged wide from the middle of the area.
Le Flem came close again early in the second half but curled just over after good battling by Smith on the edge of the area.
Tough then saved well to deny Smith one on one after the Guernsey number nine had skipped past two challenges and shown a turn of pace to drive towards the area from halfway.
The Green Lionesses were threatening a comeback and it was a bit of a suckerpunch when they fell further behind on 51 minutes. It was a fortunate one as Beth Ebert’s corner dropped in under Hockey’s crossbar. Dawber cleared it away but the assistant referee confirmed that the ball had crossed the line.
Hockey made a strong save at her near post to prevent Erbert getting a quick brace, but it was soon four just before the hour as Eloise Paine ran onto the ball on the left of the area and knocked it over the advancing Hockey into the far corner.
The Lionesses kept plugging away in the final half hour and didn’t let their heads drop. Scarlett Kenneally came close midway through the half as she met Donna Gallienne’s corner, but her header slammed against the crossbar. Bougourd also had Tough beaten with a lob but the ball dropped just over the bar.
Smith’s consolation in injury time was just rewards for the team’s efforts. She drove forward and opted to go alone with Le Flem available to her left and her low shot from the edge of the area found the bottom left corner via the post.
Guernsey dropped to eighth in the Southern Region Women’s Division One South, their lowest position of the season. Sunday’s other results were as follows: AFC Stoneham 8-1 Shaftesbury, Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1-3 Andover New Street, Farnham Town P-P Bursledon, Havanet & Waterlooville 2-1 Wimborne Town.
GUERNSEY: 21 Alana HOCKEY; 2 Heidi DAWBER; 3 Mollie WATSON; 4 Aimee OGIER; 5 Steph BATISTE; 6 Scarlett KENNEALLY; 7 Codie LE FLEM; 8 Candice BOUGOURD (c); 9 Ruby SMITH; 10 Donna GALLIENNE; 11 Adrienne LEECH. Subs used (rolling): 12 Kellie CREED; 14 Eleanor JAMIESON.
AFC VARSITY: 1 Lottie TOUGH; 3 Kimberley CARD; 5 Carmen PERRY; 10 Sofia RYAN; 11 Eloise PAINE; 14 Katie FINN; 15 Gurinder RAYAT; 16 Jess NUNN; 17 Georgia SIMS; 21 Beth EBERT; 23 Kelly BAILEY (c). Subs (rolling): 12 Jess CHALLIS; 6 Kayleigh MACKAY; 26 Freya HUTSON; 20 Jo RENOUFCOLE.
Booked: Finn.
