BADSHOT LEA    4 (Sanchez 10'; Ceesay 28'; Akinibbi 69', 78')
GUERNSEY           2 (Loaring 21'; Gauvain 77')

Guernsey's mini unbeaten run came to an end in Surrey on Saturday afternoon in a game that wasn’t without its controversy.

Matt Loaring drew level with Dominic Heaume on 92 goals for the club and Charlton Gauvain was also back amongst the goals, but with Tom Dodds cruelly sent off on the hour with the score at 2-1 the Green Lions were always up against it as they tried to get back into the game.

Josh Addison was taken completely by surprise with the game just under 10 minutes old as Jonathan Sanchez's low free-kick from the right corner of the box curled round the wall and bounced through the crowd, with the unsighted Addison helpless as it bobbled into the far corner.

But it wasn’t long before the Sarnians were level thanks to Loaring’s endeavour, continuing his fine form with his fourth goal in seven games, and his seventh of the season. Baggies keeper Harry Cawdron dawdled as he collected a backpass, and Loaring charged him down and stuck out his left leg to block the kick, which rebounded off his foot and spun into the net.

Ross Allen threatened to turn the score on its head shortly after when he drove through midfield but he lifted his shot well over the bar.

Anuar Ceesay put the hosts back in front on 28 minutes. Kojo Kyei got in behind Niall Hainsworth on the edge of the area and pulled the ball back to Ceesay 18 yards out. The Baggies number 10 shifted the ball onto his left foot and rifled it into the top right corner, leaving Addison with no chance.

Guernsey felt they should have been level before the break, had it not been for a curious offside flag. Allen was certainly onside with Callum Wiltshire at his back as he tried to latch on to Dave Rihoy’s looping ball forward, and even fended off his man who had hold of his arm. Wilshire’s header away was seized upon by Gauvain, who shifted in the area and thrashed the ball past Cawdron from the angle. Allen had simply stepped out of the way to allow Gauvain space and hadn’t prevented any defender getting to the ball, so the Tony Vance’s side were understandably furious when the flag went up.

Their first-half determination gave the Green Lions plenty of cause to be optimistic after the break. Tom Vaudin drove forward from his own half all the way into the Badshot penalty area, but the appeals for a penalty were only half-hearted as he went down under pressure from two defenders.

But then the task got much harder. Perhaps the foul was the correct decision as Sanchez may just have got to the ball first on the edge of the area just after the hour, but it was an honest attempt to win the ball from Dodds, who only went in one footed with his outstretched foot remaining on the ground, and he and his teammates felt understandably incredulous when the red card was produced.

The killed the visitors’ momentum somewhat, and Kareem Akinibbi gave his side a two-goal cushion on 69 minutes, latching onto Kane Fitzgerald’s clearance and running in behind. Jamie Dodd wanted an offside call, but the flag stayed down and the number nine tucked the ball neatly round Addison at the near post.

But Guernsey breathed new life into the game yet again on 77 minutes. Again it was a defensive error as Fitzgerald had the ball pinched off him by Gauvain, who burst into the area and slotted under Cawdron for 3-2 and his third of the campaign.

Unfortunately any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out within a minute as Akinibbi got the clincher, fending off Vaudin to reach Tristan Goodridge’s flick on and drill the ball in low from the angle, with the power too much for Addison who had tried to block with his legs.

Rihoy came close to setting up an exciting ending as he met a half-cleared corner but his volley spun away from the near post, while Addison showed flung himself to his left to palm away Joshua Keeya’s effort that looked destined for the corner, having taken a deflection.

An end to the run but plenty to be positive about with a few home games on the horizon for Vance’s side, whilst almost all their survival rivals also lost.

Guernsey remain 19th in Isthmian South Central with Saturday’s other results as follows: Chertsey Town 4-1 Raynes Park Vale, Chipstead 2-2 Ashford Town, Hartley Wintney 2-1 Hanworth Villa, Marlow 4-0 Metropolitan Police, Northwood 1-2 Leatherhead, South Park Reigate 1-1 Uxbridge, Sutton Common Rovers 2-0 Corinthian-Casuals.

BADSHOT LEA: 20 Harry CAWDRON; 2 Jonathan SANCHEZ (16 Nick MEDCRAFT, 67’); 3 Kojo KYEI; 4 George HEDLEY; 5 Callum WILTSHIRE (14 Bailey LAMB, 84’); 6 Joshua KEEYA; 7 Tane CAUBO (15 Tristan GOODRIDGE, 72’); 8 Kane FITZEGERALD; 9 Kareem AKINIBBI; 10 Anuar CEESAY; 11 Baback DEHGHANI. Not used: 12 Harvey GRIFFITHS.

Booked: Keeya.

GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 3 Jamie DODD (c); 4 Tom DODDS; 5 Tom VAUDIN; 6 Seb VANCE (12 Brandon WALLACE, 76’); 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (12 Jacques CAUVIN, 84’); 8 Dave RIHOY; 9 Matt LOARING; 10 Ross ALLEN; 11 Dave MERRIS. Not used: 14 Ben SOLWAY.

Booked: Allen, Loaring. Sent off: Dodds.

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