GUERNSEY   2 (Du Port 9'; Allen 32')
UXBRIDGE    2 (Okorogheye 62', 75')

A point is probably a step in the right direction after three straight defeats, but this will feel like two points dropped after Guernsey let a comfortable lead slip against Uxbridge on Wednesday night.

A goal credited to Fin Du Port and a simple finish from Ross Allen put the Green Lions in a commanding position at half-time, having tied their visitors up in knots.

Tony Vance has criticised the team’s game management in recent weeks, and this was on show again as the Sarnians gifted their visitors a way back through a defensive error, which completely shifted the momentum of the game. From there, GFC’s confidence drained away as quickly as it flowed through the visitors, who scrambled an equaliser.

Although Guernsey came close to nicking a winner late on in an exciting, end-to-end finish, they were counting their blessing that they didn’t lose again, with Ada Okorogheye guilty of missing two glorious chances to turn the game in Uxbridge’s favour in the final 10 minutes.

Vance’s side started by building on a strong performance from Saturday, moving the ball around well, pouncing on mistakes in midfield, and causing trouble for the visiting back-line by baiting the press with short passes around the back then hitting them over the top.

George Moore’s header from a free-kick was the first chance of the game for the visitors (and he had another one roll wide from range in the first half), but apart from that it was all GFC, who were great value for their half-time lead. The visitors were looking anything but a form team who had won seven games in a row.

Ross Allen fired over from distance after Tom Vaudin had driven deep into the visitors’ half and teed him up, then Charlton Gauvain cut in and arrowed at goal from 25 yards, which required Uxbridge keeper George Legg to save at full stretch.

Only Fin Du Port will know if he was shooting or crossing for the opener on nine minutes. He cut back onto his right foot on the left and whipped the ball in. It was in the direction of the far corner anyway, but it was helped on its way via a glance off the top of a defender’s head. He won’t want to claim it, so this one goes down as Du Port’s first goal for the club, deserved as he reached double figures for appearances and improves in his debut season.

Du Port caused more problems on 16 minutes as his cross was only half cleared. Sam Murray’s follow-up was blocked and Jacques Cauvin sent the loose ball wide from outside the area.

Simon Arnold nearly doubled the lead as he reached a pull-pack from Sam Murray (after an excellent switch of play from Allen), but his effort was blocked from the angle. An acrobatic effort from Murray was also blocked by a crowd of bodies.

Another switched of play from the left then set Cauvin away, who sent his man the wrong way with a lovely drop of the shoulder, but his low shot was too central and blocked by Legg.

Guernsey’s second came just a minute later and was well deserved. Gauvain sent a high free-kick into the area and a defender made a hash of the clearance and sent it looping up and towards goal. It was a gift for Allen, who helped it past Legg from six yards.

GFC continued to jump on any loose ball or 50-50 in midfield, going straight for the jugular each time. This time Arnold got into the area but his shot was deflected into the side netting.

Du Port was incredibly unlucky not to make it three. Uxbridge backed off as Guernsey took a quick free-kick, and Du Port beat Legg from the edge of the area only for CJ Fearn to clear off the line. Legg also held from Allen before the half was out.

Guernsey started the second half with similar confidence and a fully stretched arm was required from Legg to divert over as Gauvain cut in from the left and sent a dipper from 25 yards out.

The rain was coming down heavily now, and Addison needed a second opportunity to hold after nearly letting a shot from Moore slip out his grasp. Addison also fielded a skidder from Okorogheye and Niall Hainsworth got his body in the way to block from substitute Alex Witham.

Uxbridge’s lifeline was a gift as Vaudin dallied on the ball on the halfway line and was robbed of posession. The visitors broke down the left and Okorogheye slipped the ball in from a tight angle, beating Addison at the near post.

From this point on, the flow of the game completely changed. Uxbridge had their tails up and the nerves got the better of the Green Lions.

Loaring gave brief respite as he lifted over after good work by Gauvain to bring down a high ball, but the blue-shirted Reds pounced to level on 75 minutes as a corner to the far post was knocked down and Okorogheye helped it past Addison from a yard out for his second of the night.

There was almost a carbon copy five minutes later in a scramble at the far post, but Addison somehow clawed the ball off the line as it was begging to be tapped in. Uxbridge recycled the clearance and James Taylor headed home, but he was well offside and the flag quickly went up to rule it out.

The game had turned from one the Sarnians were looking good to win suddenly to hanging on to not lose. They did discover some ambition again in the closing stages as the sides traded golden chances.

Substitute Tom Dodds curled over from range after Brandon Wallace’s cross had been half cleared, with Addison diving to hold from Wilson Chingoka at the other end.

Witham arrowed one to the top corner that just whistled an inch over, then Okorogheye missed the first of two sitters as Uxbridge broke into the area, but he ballooned over as he cut inside.

GFC did come close to nicking it on two occasions in very similar fashion. First, a wicked delivery across the six-yard box from substitute Alex Ward just evaded Murray and Wallace in the middle, then Ward himself had a winner snatched away from him as Legg got a fingertip to Wallace’s low delivery to divert it inches past his toe.

Uxbridge will still be kicking themselves for not turning it around completely, as Okorogheye blew another golden chance, blazing over from point-blank range as Witham teed him up.

Uxbridge captain and keeper Legg got himself sent off for dissent in injury time, but it was too late for the Green Lions to take advantage of the extra man. It was probably a fair result with Guernsey far superior in the first half and Uxbridge the stronger side after the interval, but the Green Lions will be rueing the fact they allowed that to happen.

Vance's side did at least avoid setting a new unwanted record of six straight losses at home, but it is now 13 games without victory at Footes Lane.

GFC remain second from bottom in Isthmian South Central. The other midweek results were as follows: Hartley Wintney 5-0 South Park (Reigate), Leatherhead 6-1 Rayners Lane, Moneyfields 1-3 Kingstonian, Raynes Park Vale 1-2 Farnham Town.

GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 5 Tom VAUDIN; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (20 Alex WARD, 84’); 8 Matt LOARING; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 12 Fin DU PORT (17 Brandon WALLACE, 76’); 14 Simon ARNOLD (11 Owen WALLBRIDGE, 62’); 18 Dave MERRIS (4 Tom DODDS, 72’); 21 Jacques CAUVIN. Not used: 22 Fin PATTERSON.

Booked: Vaudin, Gauvain, Merris.

UXBRIDGE: 1 George LEGG (c); 2 Troy MURRAY (14 Alex WITHAM, HT); 3 Casey BOCARRO; 4 CJ FEARN; 5 Shaun PREDDIE (12 Thomas Soares FEYISITAN, 68’); 6 James TAYLOR; 7 Wilson CHINGOKA; 8 Toby NNADOZIE; 9 Ada OKOROGHEYE; 10 George MOORE; 11 Leo DECABO (17 Giacomo MAGRINI, 90+4’). Not used: 15 Andrio Brandao; 16 Robert BUNN.

Booked: Murray, Taylor. Sent off: Legg.

Attendance: 422.

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