| CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK | 2 | – | 2 | GUERNSEY |
| Harley 8′ Kilkenny 59′ |
Dodd 55′ Fazakerley 82′ |
Guernsey came from behind twice to claim a point on a tough Tuesday night at Crawley Down Gatwick.
The rock hard, scorched pitch made it hard for the Green Lions to find a flow in their game, and Tony Vance would have been grateful to have come away from a tough midweek away with a share of the spoils in a game where they were a little disjointed.
That said, they were much improved in the second half and could have nicked it as they turned up the pressure late on, though that may have been a tad harsh on their hosts.
The Anvils took the lead inside eight minutes as they broke away down the right on the counter attack. The cross found its way to the far post where Will Harley found himself in space, steadied himself and picked out the far corner with a curler.
The ball wasn’t quick sticking for the Greens but as they started to find their fit, Callum Le Lacheur’s curler went just wide and Will Fazakerley fired straight at Alex Bellingham. Fin du Port also cleared the crossbar as he send a half-cleared corner back towards goal.
Ollie Leslie could have doubled the lead for Crawley Down at the far post but fired off target, while Seb Sheppard saved well from James Laws.
Guernsey started the second half much better and were level quickly. The ball was returned to taker Charlton Gauvain at a set piece, his cross was helped on by the head of Sam Murray and Jamie Dodd was perfectly placed at the far post to knock in the loose ball – a goal that capped another immense performance at the back from the veteran.
But parity didn’t last long as the Anvils went back in front shortly after, winning the ball back high up and Harley teed up substitute Callum Kilkenny at the far post to notch just moments after coming on.
It could have got worse just after the hour after a defensive mix-up, but Crawley Down failed to accept the gift as Kilkenny’s shot hit the outside of the post.
Substitute Fin Patterson fell victim to the rock hard pitch as he skewed a shot well over from a promising position, but his introduction out wide, and Dylan Graham’s on the opposite flank, were making a positive difference.
It was the endeavour of Graham that earned the equaliser with less than 10 minutes left. He chased flick-on in behind his marker and got enough on the ball to force a block from Bellingham, with the loose ball falling kindly for Will Fazakerley to finish first time, bouncing it off the turf to ensure it evaded the backtracking defenders on the line.
Fazakerley’s header on the stretch looped over in the closing stages and Graham could have grabbed a winner as he stretched out a toe to reach a bouncing ball but put a bit too much on it and sent it over the top.
It was Guernsey first draw in more than a year, and their first in 16 months in league football.
CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK: 1 Alex BELLINGHAM; 2 Dewlin DUAH (17 Njagga JAMMAL-JOHN 67′); 3 Ben MARTIN-COWARD (15 Beau WATERS, 78′); 4 Harley BYRNE; 5 Charlie PETHPHER; 6 Harvey ENTICKNAP (16 Callum KILKENNY, 57′); 7 Michael SPENCE (c); 8 James LAWS; 9 Will HARLEY; 10 Alex TIDY (14 Josh ALDER, 86′); 11 Oli LESLIE (12 Liam HOLDEN, 57′).
Booked: Holden.
GUERNSEY: 13 Seb SHEPPARD; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 3 Jamie DODD; 5 Fin DU PORT (16 Corey BROUARD, 87′); 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (c); 9 Sam MURRAY (22 Fin PATTERSON, 66′); 17 Callum LE LACHEUR (25 Dylan GRAHAM, 72′); 18 Dave MERRIS; 19 Will FAZAKERLEY; 21 Jacques CAUVIN; 23 Archie DRILLOT. Not used: 4 Tom DODDS.
Booked: Dodd, Gauvain.
Attendance: 85.
