GUERNSEY        3 (Gauvain 8'; Murray 36'; Loaring 45+1')
NORTHWOOD  3 (Tingey 63'; Sinclair 65'; Langley 74')

Guernsey are safe in Step Four for another season – that’s the most important thing.

The Green Lions got the point they needed (with Chipstead’s defeat on Saturday leaving GFC knowing a draw would be enough), but once again made life difficult for themselves and threw away a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead that meant an ending much nervier than it needed to be.

To be fair, it was a heavily wind-affected game with all six goals coming at the same end of Footes Lane, and all the visitors' efforts came from set pieces that GFC just couldn’t cope with.

There were no signs of that in a blistering first half from Tony Vance’s side though, as they looked to ease the nerves early. Charlton Gauvain brought a save out of Andrew McCorkell within two minutes, the Northwood keeper blocking with his left as the Guernsey number seven hit a dropping ball from the angle.

Within eight minutes, Gauvain did give his side the lead as McCorkell made a hash of his clearance and was left stranded as the playmaker curled over him into an empty net from 25 yards, marking double figures in a season for the first time for him.

A rare save in the first half for Josh Addison came a minute later as he got down to his left to hold a deflected shot from Dan Williams, although the Sarnians nearly shot themselves in the foot on 21 minutes as Matt Loaring’s chipped backpass bounced awkwardly in front of Addison, who slipped and was relieved to see the ball end up the safe side of the post.

Seb Vance hooked at goal through a crowd just before the half-hour following a poor header away from Ben Solway’s throw, but it was straight at McCorkell, who held. Moments later, Sam Murray chased Owen Wallbridge's ball down the right and returned the favour, but Wallbridge's effort was deflected wide.

Guernsey deservedly made it two on 36 minutes as Gauvain battled past two defenders on the left and pulled the ball back. Murray knocked towards goal from close range which Corkell did well to get a hand to it and push the ball onto the bar but the ball dropped down the right side of the line, perhaps in part thanks to the wind, and the assistant referee flagged to confirm that fact.

Gauvain continued to be GFC’s main threat and hit turn in a crowd of players set up a chance for Murray, whose low shot was diverted wide by McCorkell. The resulting corner was pulled back to Dave Merris on the edge of the box, who would have picked out the far top corner if not for an excellent flying save from McCorkell.

But that only prolonged Guernsey’s third by a couple of minutes. As the first half ticked into injury time, Loaring did well to keep the ball under pressure on the right, eventually working space on the edge of the box after a couple of drops of the shoulder. Only he will know if he was crossing or shooting, but the delivery was a fraction too high for Gauvain’s leap and curled into the far corner.

It should have been game over, even if Addison was called into action three times in the opening minutes of the second half, plucking two flicked headers out of the air and grabbing Williams’ downward header with several attackers lurking to pounce on a spill.

The hosts were now weathering a fare bit of pressure, but had some respite as they worked the ball into the area from the left, with Loaring pouncing on Gauvain's pullback at the far post but his effort was deflected wide.

Northwood’s first glimmer of hope came shortly after the hour as substitute Luke Tingey found himself free to nod home at the far post after the wind aided the flight of an inswinging corner.

Just two minutes later it was 3-2 as Lucas Sinclair met Tingey’s long throw in the six-yard box to help it into the net.

Wallbridge came close to easing the nerves after good work from Gauvain sent him into the area, but his effort from the angle only found the side netting. Merris then slid in to make a vital block in the six-yard box as Harry McKenna met the ball at the far post and tried to pick out the far corner, but it wasn’t long before the Woods completed their comeback.

It was another corner that caused havoc, this time the ball dropping kindly in the six-yard box for Stephan Langley to turn and steer it home.

Suddenly, Guernsey’s comfortable route to survival was looking extremely rocky. Luckily, the Green Lions gave up few chances for Northwood to complete a stunning turnaround, although Sinclair should have done so late on, wasting a sitter from six yards as he blasted over the top after Kofi Anokye-Boadi have evaded the attention of Tom Dodds down the left.

Substitute Ross Allen, given a rest from the start having struggled with a groin strain at the end of Wednesday’s game, had McCorkell worried with a free-kick that dropped just over the bar after Brandon Wallace had been chopped down 25 yards out.

Another inswinging corner for Northwood was helped by the wind onto the top of the crossbar in stoppage time, but to their credit, Guernsey regrouped after being pegged back to 3-3 and, Sinclair’s sitter aside, didn’t really give up any good chances, especially in open play.

Guernsey’s survival should have been settled a long time ago if not for a dismal run of winless games, but the draw gives them a three-point cushion on Chipstead, who only have one game left. The weekend’s other results were as follows: Ascot United 0-2 Metropolitan Police, Ashford Town 0-2 Westfield, Binfield 0-0 Raynes Park Vale, Chipstead 0-3 Thatcham Town, Corinthian-Casuals 4-2 Uxbridge, Hanworth Villa 2-1 Leatherhead, Hartley Wintney 0-3 Southall, South Park Reigate 1-2 Marlow, Sutton Common Rovers 0-2 Chertsey Town.

GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Ben SOLWAY; 3 Dave MERRIS (14 Jacques Cauvin, 78’); 4 Tom DODDS: 5 Tom VAUDIN; 6 Seb VANCE; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (17 Brandon WALLACE, 84’); 8 Dave RIHOY; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Owen WALLBRIDGE (16 Ross ALLEN, 70’); 11 Matt LOARING (c). Not used: 12 Niall HAINSWORTH; 13 Jordan KELLY.

NORTHWOOD: 1 Andrew McCORKELL; 2 Harry McKENNA (14 Godlove OPPONG, 70’); 3 Deago DUNBAR-BONNIE; 4 Harry McCORKELL; 5 Harry GALLAGHER (16 Luke TINGEY, 25’); 6 Stephan LANGLEY; 7 Archie JAMES; 8 Teddy STACEY; 9 Lucas SINCLAIR; 10 Dan WILLIAMS; 11 Kofi ANOKYE-BOADI. Not used: 12 Sam JENKINS; 15 Martin FLANNERY; 17 Jeremy STEWART.

Attendance: 728.

Highlights will soon be available on our social media and YouTube channels.