| WICK | 4 | – | 3 | GUERNSEY |
| Beck 14′ Gratwick 47′ Roberts 53′, 81′ | Loaring 6′, 39′ Torode 88′ |
Guernsey stuttered at Wick on Saturday afternoon to as good as rule out any chance of sneaking into second place in the Southern Combination Premier Division.
The Green Lions were without 14 players due to the Muratti semi-final and injuries, but that presented a chance for three teenagers to make their debuts off the bench and all caught the eye – with the headlines going to Alfie Torode for a goal on his debut.
Unfortunately it was only a consolation as, despite leading at half-time, Tony Vance’s side conceded two goals in a nightmare start to the second half and the game was put beyond them in the final 10 minutes as they chased an equaliser.
Things had started brightly enough with the Sarnians going in front just as the clock ticked towards six minutes at Crabtree Park. A couple of ricochets saw the ball reach Wallace at the far post. He cut back onto his right foot and aimed for the near post. Loaring inadvertently got in the way of the shot and the ball hit him and rolled in.
Allen came close to doubling the score soon after as Jordan Kelly’s long kick was allowed to bounced, but the captain’s lob bounced off the crossbar.
Simon Arnold tested Keelan Belcher with a long range effort just a minute before the Dragons levelled on 14 minutes. After some tidy build-up, Cavan Gratwick picked out the run of Callum Beck who made no mistake when one on one with Kelly.
Loaring got his second six minutes before half-time, securing a brace on his 400th appearance in league competition. Sam Murray’s hook hover his shoulder gave Ross Allen the opportunity to battle with his marker on the right. He eventually gave two players the slip and put in a cross that reached Brandon Wallace at the far post. His shot took a slight deflection and may have been heading in anyway but Matt Loaring had ghosted in to make sure with a header from virtually on the goal line.
Guernsey’s heads were still in the dressing room as the second half kicked off and they were pegged back within two minutes as Wick outnumbered the visiting defence when chasing a long ball and Gratwick beat Kelly to level it up again.
Just six minutes later and the Dragons had turned it around. Again the Green Lions were short at the back and an unfortunately timed knock for Tom Dodds left Ethan Roberts with a simple finish.
Wallace and Roberts were just off target for their respective sides with under 20 minutes left and a goalmouth scramble as the game reached its final 10 minutes put the game beyond GFC, Roberts getting the final touch to make it 4-2.
To their credit, Guernsey kept pushing hard and the three young substitutes all made positive contributions.
Murray fired just wide and then Torode’s big moment came with a couple of minutes left. Debutant Dylan Graham pinched the ball off Gratwick on the halfway line and send Allen away down the right. Allen stood up a cross to the far post where Torode was waiting to head it in.
Despite their late push, the Sarnian’s could force an equaliser and the home semi-final mission rolls onto Tuesday for the repeat trip to Midhurst & Easebourne, who still need a point to confirm their safety in the Southern Combination Premier Division. A win for the Greens will cement that third spot.
Guernsey’s unlikely possibility of sneaking past Steyning Town for the title is officially now out of reach as the Barrowmen beat Eastbourne United to open up an unassailable 11-point gap over the Green Lions with us only having three games to play. It also ends Eastbourne’s hopes of making the play-offs and Haywards heath Town’s win at Seaford Town means they effectively only need a point (due to goal difference) to prevent us sneaking into second. However, Horsham YM’s defeat to Peacehaven & Telscombe means that home semi-final is within touching distance and we need just three points from our final three games to secure third place – there is now a battle between Horsham and Peacehaven to determine who finishes fourth and travels to Victoria Park for the semi-final.
Saturday’s other results were as follows: AFC Varndeanians 1-0 Lingfield, Crawley Down Gatwick 4-1 Shoreham, Forest Row 1-2 Lancing, Little Common 1-2 Pagham, Midhurst & Easebourne 0-5 Bexhill United, Peacehaven & Telcombe 3-2 Horsham YM, Roffey 1-2 Newhaven, Seaford Town 1-3 Haywards Heath Town, Steyning Town 3-0 Eastbourne United.
WICK: 1 Keelan BELCHER; 2 Callum BECK; 3 Darryl WOLLERS; 4 George BINGHAM; 5 Jack DOWNIE; 6 Charlie ROBINSON; 7 Ryan SINGERS; 8 Theo BENNETTS; 9 Ethan ROBERTS; 10 Daniel SIMMONDS; 11 Cavan GRATWICK. Subs used: Oliver CLARKE; James FALLICK; Ben GRAY; Frankie SPITERI. Not used: SHORT.
Booked: Simmonds, Spiteri.
GUERNSEY: 13 Jordan KELLY; 4 Tom DODDS (20 Riley TYRRELL, 82′); 5 Tom VAUDIN; 6 Seb VANCE (25 Alfie TORODE, 73′); 8 Matt LOARING; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Brandon WALLACE; 14 Simon ARNOLD; 16 Gil HUNTER; 22 Fin PATTERSON (17 Dylan GRAHAM, 84′).
Booked: Loaring, Dodds.
