| GUERNSEY | 1 | – | 4 | PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE |
| du Port 72′ | Edwards 41′, 66′ Tighe 45+2′, 50′ |
Guernsey fell short at the final hurdle as their excellent form this season deserted them in the Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final on Saturday afternoon.
Having started brightly enough but not capitalising on their opportunities to take the lead, once they fell behind shortly before half-time – compounded by a gift of a second just before the break – they were always second best and Peacehaven & Telscombe go up to step four as worthy winners on the day.
The Tye had clearly done their homework since suffering a heavy defeat on their last visit, exploiting the space in behind the GFC backline to devastating effect.
Whether the occasion got to them or it was hard to raise the levels again after the high of the Muratti win for so many of the squad, but the Sarnians just weren’t at the races.
Tony Vance’s side did start on the front foot and Charlton Gauvain volleyed wide across goal inside six minutes after good work from Sam Murray and Ross Allen.
Josh Addison got down to hold a weak effort from Fin Agnihotri and Emmanual Okunja header a corner over before Allen stung the palms of James Broadbent with a low free-kick on the quarter-hour mark.
The hosts were breathing a sigh of relief on 26 minutes as Callum Edwards was given too much freedom to roam into and across the area as he ran onto a throw-in. His rasping effort from the edge of the box swerved away from Addison but the ball cracked mercifully off the post.
Allen had a glorious opportunity to put his side in front on 34 minutes as Will Fazakerley’s flick on sent him in behind. He opted to lift the bouncing ball over Broadbent and it dropped agonisingly wide.
The visitors only got better as the half wore on and they got their noses in front on 41 minutes. Agnihotri’s low cross found Callum Edwards on the corner in the six-yard box and he had room to swivel and find the far bottom corner.
GFC were almost back on level terms quickly as Fazakerley headed on Gil Hunter’s clipped cross to Broadbent reacted well to turn the ball over as Murray planted a header towards goal. Jacques Cauvin headed the resulting corner the wrong side of the far post.
A one-goal deficit at half-time would have left it anybody’s game, but the Greens doubled the size of their task in first-half injusy time. Addison miscued his kick as he came out to clear a long ball, and was unable to get back as Connor Tighe seized onto the loose ball and placed it into the empty net from the corner of the area.
It went from bad to worse just three minutes after the break as no one took charge as the home defence and away attack tustled for the ball outside the area. No one picked up the run of Tighe as he burst onto the loose ball, rounded Addison and tucked in from a tight angle.
Substitute Fin Patterson floated in a cross that nearly dropped in but bounced off the crossbar, with Allen unable to turn in the rebound at the far post.
The fourth and final blow midway through the half was also avoidable. Edwards swung in a free-kick from the corner of the area and with no one taking the initiative in the middle, the ball bounced right through and into the far corner.
Fin du Port’s reply was more consolation than a goal to haul his side back into the contest on 72 minutes. Gauvain cut back a corner and du Port played the Allen role in running onto it and stroking a low shot through a crowd and into a corner.
There was a bit of a late rally but, in truth, Peacehaven’s grip on promotion never looked like looseing. Broadbent held as du Port tried to help Fazakerley’s knockdown towards goal, while Niall Hainsworth nearly scored with his first touch but headed Gauvain’s corner wide.
There was to be no grandstand finish in 10 minutes-plus of injury time and so the biggest Victoria Park crowd of the season were not able to witness what they have been accustomed to this season. Guernsey need to dust themselves down, rest up and go again in step five next season.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Brandon WALLACE (5 Tom VAUDIN, 90+5′); 12 Fin DU PORT (2 Niall HAINSWORTH, 90+3′); 15 Ben SOLWAY; 16 Gil HUNTER (3 Jamie DODD, 90+3′); 18 Dave MERRIS (22 Fin PATTERSON, 55′); 19 Will FAZAKERLEY; 21 Jacques CAUVIN (17 Callum LE LACHEUR, 67′).
Booked: du Port, Murray, Gauvain.
PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE: 1 James BROADBENT; 2 Jake BALDEY (8 Tyler SCRAFTON, 76′); 3 Fin AGNIHOTRI (19 Alexandros ANGELIS, 76′); 4 Ross BARCLAY (c); 5 Drew MATTHEWS; 6 Harry POLLARD; 7 Callum EDWARDS (17 Lewis BEEBEE, 96′); 10 Connor TIGHE (9 Trevor McCREADIE, 80′); 18 Emmanuel OKUNJA; 20 Cam WILTSHIRE (15 Danny HOWICK, 91′); 22 Matt ASTLE.
Booked: Pollard.
