GUERNSEY              1 (Allen 55’)
ASHFORD TOWN  0

Ross Allen dug out a finish that was enough to earn Guernsey a vital win over Ashford Town at Footes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Green Lions’ number 10 latched onto a rebound to put an earlier sitter behind them and engineer the Sarnians out of the bottom four and gain some revenge for the 5-0 hammering they suffered in the reverse fixture 11 days prior.

It was nice to see that, rather than retreating to try and hold on as has been a theme this season, the Green Lions actually improved after the goal. It had kicked them into life and they were looking more likely to score the next goal, and they probably should have – including hitting the woodwork twice.

That was an encouraging end after a drab first half where the Sarnians were treating the ball like a hot potato rather than their usual measured approach. Aside from early shots for Sam Murray and Fin du Port that were held by Marcin Brzozowski, and a glancing header from du Port that flashed past the far corner, there was very little goal threat.

It was similar at the other end. Eighteen-year-old debutant Will Seeley set the tone for a solid goalkeeping display by pushing over a rising drive from Jack Arnold and thwarting a couple of chances at the feet of Ashford attackers, while Scott Day blazed over after being teed up in a good position.

However, Allen should have given his side the lead shortly before the break. Charlton Gauvain picked out Niall Hainsworth’s overlap and the wingback’s low delivery was perfect for Allen to run onto, but his low effort was tame and too close to Brzozowski on the line.

Tangerines captain Sam Humphreys dragged wide from the edge of the box early in the second half but then the game sparked into life with the hosts edging in front on 55 minutes.

Gauvain and Hainsworth combined neatly again on the right and Gauvain delivered for du Port in the area. A lovely first touch from du Port teed himself up for a shot but his drive was straight at Brzozowski, who beat it away – but only as far as Allen, who had to dig the ball out from under his feet but did so successfully as he rolled it into the bottom corner.

Guernsey were denied a second by the offside flag five minutes later, with Allen deemed to have run a fraction too early as he ran onto Jamie Dodd’s quick free-kick and centred low for Murray so slide home.

Just after the midway point of the half, Allen curled in a wicked cross from the left that deflected off the head of Elliott Poley and onto the post. The follow-up fell for du Port far out, but his drive was just over.

A lovely first-time ball round the corner from Murray set Gauvain through on goal on 79 minutes. His low shot from the angle beat Brzozowski but bounced agonisingly off the foot of the far post.

Ashford worked hard to try and level but were lacking an end product. Jayden Porter Atkinson lifted over from a good position and a late header flew over the top but the Green Lions were otherwise comfortable and had more good chances to get a second.

Gauvain took advantage of Poley failing to deal with an awkward high ball and ran in on goal again but Brzozowski stood firm to block. In the last minute of normal time, Gauvain found Murray in the left channel and the big number nine cut into the area – he took aim for the far top corner but the ball whistled just past the angle of the woodwork.

A small scare from Seeley on an otherwise spotless afternoon saw him relieved to see the ball trickle behind off an attacker after a routine save had squirmed out his grasp, but his team survived.

The three points after only a second clean sheet of the season took the Green Lions out of the relegation zone ahead of the later kick-offs, but that was position was confirmed later on as Sutton Common Rovers edged out South Park to drag them in.

It was an especially important win with back-to-back trips to the league's top two - perhaps two free hits ahead of two important home games to come.

Saturday’s other results were as follows: Ascot United 2-0 Harrow Borough, Badshot Lea P-P Hanworth Villa, Bindfield P-P Hartley Wintney, Farnham Town P-P Rayners Lane, Hayes & Yeading United 0-1 Westfield, Horndean 1-1 Leatherhead, Kingstonian P-P Southall, Metropolitan Police 0-0 Raynes Park Vale, Sutton Common Rovers 1-0 South Park (Reigate), Uxbridge 1-0 Moneyfields.

GUERNSEY: 32 Will SEELEY; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH (21 Jacques CAUVIN, 67’); 3 Jamie DODD (c); 4 Tom DODDS; 5 Tom VAUDIN; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN; 12 Fin DU PORT: 14 Simon ARNOLD; 24 Jacob FALLAIZE. Not used: 17 Brandon WALLACE; 18 Dave MERRIS; 20 Alex WARD; 22 Fin PATTERSON.

Booked: Seeley, Murray.

ASHFORD TOWN: 1 Marcin BRZOZOWSKI; 2 Archie LARKHAM; 3 Barsa MIRTAHMASEBI; 4 Scott DAY (16 Alexander PAINE, 83’); 5 Prince KANDOLO; 6 Elliott POLEY; 7 Jack ARNOLD; 8 George VORSTER (14 Basim MIRTAHMASEBI, 56’); 9 James KING (17 Liam MOORE, 61’); 10 Sam HUMPHREYS (c); 11 David NYARKO (15 Jayden PORTER ATKINSON, 56’).

Booked: Day.

Attendance 564.

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