Guernsey 0
Westfield 1 (Walters (pen) 45+4')
Guernsey were left frustrated again at Footes Lane on Saturday afternoon after a 1-0 defeat to Westfield despite a good performance.
The Gren Lions were 100% better than their last home outing against Uxbridge, especially in the first half, but were undone by a soft penalty in the fifth minute of added on time and had every reason to feel unjust at being on the wrong end of several big decisions that had a significant effect on the flow of the game.
Buoyed by their victory over Chipstead a fortnight ago, Tony Vance’s side started with purpose and were fluid in attack, but just could find the finishing touch.
Just five minutes in, Keanu Marsh burst into the box following a quick corner and saw his shot blocked. A scramble followed before the ball looped into the air, and Sam Murray met it with a stinging volley. Luckily for Sonny Wheeler, it was straight at him and he made the block.
In the 18th minute, Murray headed down Joe Alvarez’s high cross, but Loaring miscued his volley and sliced it well wide.
The first two of many frustrating moments for the Green Lions came midway through the half. First, the hosts were incredulous that the referee ignored their appeals for a penalty, then blew up for less of an infringement against them just has Liam Mahon lifted Danny Hale’s knockdown over Wheeler and into the net with a cushioned volley. Tom Dodds’ passionate protests earned him a booking.
Hale was also tripped when through on goal, but the referee gave a free-kick the other way.
Westfield’s Darnell Goather-Braithwaite dragged narrowly wide from just outside the box, before sending a wilder effort high and wide a few minutes later.
A late trip on Marsh 10 yards outside the box presented another opportunity for the hosts. Hale kept it low and hit the target but Wheeler got down to his left to hold it.
Guernsey had a scare on the counter attack as Westfield broke in numbers and the ball was played across to Troy Walters in acres of space, but he slipped at the vital moment and sliced over. That came after further anger from the home side when Jamie Dodd looked like he was being dragged back by his shirt a defender as he tried to get his head to a corner.
After some more neat football from the hosts, Alvarez then overhit a cross from the left wing. Wheeler looked to claim it but fumbled the ball before eventually scrambling it away (below), with Vance’s side adamant that it had crossed the line. Once again, their protests fell on deaf ears.
The visitors took the lead deep into first-half stoppage time against the run of play. Fallaize slid in too early and didn’t touch Walters initially, but his outstretching leg made it easy for the Westfield forward to initiate contact and hit the deck. It had the desired effect as the referee took the bait and pointed to the spot. Walters tucked it just out of Addison’s reach into the bottom left corner to cap a half of frustration for the Green Lions.
There was time for more drama before the half was out. Straight from kick off, the ball was lifted high towards the right for Marsh to chase. He drew the foul and Hale whipped in the free-kick, with Loaring heading just over from six yards.
Early in the second half, Walters’ low shot had the string taken out of it by a deflection and Addison was able to gather, while Liam Mahon lifted the ball over the goalkeeper into the net for a second time, but the referee had already blown to penalise him for a foul.
The Green Lions didn’t let the events of the first half deter them and continued to go on the attack. They came close at a corner when Fallaize’s header was blocked. Alverez pounced on the rebound but his effort was deflected over.
After some committed defending from Guernsey in their own box, the ball eventually fell for Andrew Crossley, whose effort whistled just wide to Addison’s right. Shortly after, Walters lifted over.
The only meaningful save of the game Addison had to make came with a little over 10 minutes remaining. Walters found a yard of space and fired at the far top corner, but the GFC stopper stuck out an arm to parry the shot away.
Substitute Keene Domaille then beat the offside trap and stood up a ball for Murray to attack, but the number nine was off stretching and headed wide.
Westfield had a couple of chances to kill the game off but couldn’t capitalise. Wiktor Makowski drove down the right but was forced to shoot from the angle and dragged it wide of the far post, while Walters faffed about with it the ball in a good position and was forced to tee up Makowski, whose shot was held by Addison.
In between those two chances, Domaille cut in and shot from distance at the other end but his daisy cutter was gathered by Wheeler, and the visitors held out for three points that keeps them in touch of the play-offs.
Guernsey dropped to 17th in Isthmian South Central, with Saturday’s other results as follows: Basingstoke Town 2-1 Sutton Common Rovers, Bedfont Sports 0-0 Chertsey Town, Chipstead 1-1 Merstham, Hanworth Villa 2-2 Binfield, Leatherhead 2-1 Ashford Town, Southall 1-0 Marlow, Thatcham Town 3-0 South Park, Uxbridge 1-0 Northwood, Walton & Hersham 2-1 Tooting & Mitcham United.
Guernsey: 1 Josh Addison; 2 Keanu Marsh (14 Tom Vaudin, 51’); 3 Jamie Dodd (c), 4 Tom Dodds, 5 Jacob Fallaize, 6 Kieran Mahon (12 Dave Merris, 78’); 7 Matt Loaring (15 Keene Domaille, 70’); 8 Liam Mahon; 9 Sam Murray; 10 Danny Hale; 11 Joe Alvarez. Not used: 13 Jason Martin; 16 Brandon Wallace.
Booked: Dodds, Fallaize.
Westfield: 1 Sonny Wheeler; 2 Darnell Goather-Braithwaite; 3 John Adebiyi; 4 Harry Carter; 5 Luke Elliott (c) (12 Jon Sanchez, HT); 6 Niran Butler; 7 James Glover; 8 Andrew Crossley; 9 Florian Ada (14 Wiktor Makowski, 71’); 10 Troy Walters; 11 Jude Mason (15 David Amate, 84’). Not used: 16 Rayan Clarke; 17 Harry Seabrook.
Booked: Mason, Crossley, Glover.
Attendance: 591.
Highlights will be uploaded to GFCTV over the weekend.