Matt Loaring is set for a welcome return to the Guernsey squad for the visit of Bexhill United to Victoria Park on Saturday.
Loaring has missed the whole of the season so far with a knee injury and has been declared fit to join the squad having had minor surgery over the Christmas period. His return is timely given there will be a few changes to Tony Vance’s squad as their quest to close the gap on the top two continues.
Niall Hainsworth is unavailable while Simon Arnold has a minor injury and Charlton Gauvain starts a two-match suspension for picking up his 10th booking of the season last weekend. The Green Lions’ under-21 options may be used more sparingly given there are six of them (Gil Hunter, Jacques Cauvin, George Goubert, Fin du Port, Fin Patterson and Tyrese Kelly) playing in the Ambassadeur Bowl against Jersey at Victoria Park on Friday evening. Seb Vance remains sidelined with a shoulder problem but Tom Dodds has been pushing hard for a return to the squad and this could be his chance to break back in, while Frazer Maginnis is also back in the island and club captain Jamie Dodd could return to the back line.
Will Fazakerley needs one more goal to reach nine this season, which would be a new best return from his GFC career. Sam Murray needs one more to reach 60 goals and two more to claim 30 for the season. No other player other than Ross Allen has previously achieved that for the Sarnians.
Guernsey and Bexhill pair faced each other as recently as February, with Sam Murray bagging two early goals and Callum Le Lacheur and Brandon Wallace netting late in a 4-0 win. In their four games since then, the Pirates have won two and lost two but that includes a last-minute victory over title favourites Haywards Heath Town. Their top scorer Jack Shonk (who scored in the FA Vase fixture between the pair in August, which finished 4-1 to GFC) is on 19 goals for the campaign.
Haywards Heath Town are in earlier action on Friday night so depending on that result, the Green Lions will be playing to either close a five-point or eight-point gap. Other results to watch out for on Saturday will be Steyning Town’s home fixture against Crawley Down Gatwick, Horsham YM’s trip to Shoreham and Peacehaven & Telscombe’s clash with Midhurst & Easebourne.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 2pm. Fans unable to make it to Victoria Park can keep up to date with our social media posts. A full match report will follow.
