GUERNSEY FC WOMEN 4 (Le Flem 18'; Dallamore 29'; Ingrouille 42'; D Gallienne 90+5')
JERSEY WANDERERS WOMEN 1 (Brennand 90+7')
Guernsey FC Women made their entry into league football in style as they beat Jersey Wanderers Women comfortably on Sunday morning.
In a game that was slated as a home fixture despite taking place across the Channel Islands, the Green Lionesses were three goals to the good at the break, and put this icing on the cake in injury time after a second half that was almost one way traffic, although Wanderers did grab a consolation with the last kick of the game.
Calleigh Hedley was always a threat in attack even if she was unable to get on the scoresheet. She tested Wanderers keeper Malta with a low shot early on, while Courtney McDade fired just wide at the other end.
Codie Le Flem gave her side the lead with her fifth goal for the club on 18 minutes. A defender made a hash of clearing Hedley's low pullback. Dallamore intercepted and Le Flem picked up the loose ball before stroking it past Malta.
Then is was Malta getting the better of Le Flem as she saved the Guernsey number seven's free-kick at the near post.
Amy Dallamore doubled Guernsey's advantage just before the half-hour with a brilliant first-time lob over Malta, grabbing her first goal for the club.
Sofia Rodrigues gave the Green Lionesses a minor scare as her cross bounced off the top of the crossbar, before Donna Gallienne turned on the edge of the boxed and forced Malta into a save with a low shot. Le Flem then tried her luck from outside the area but her effort bounced just wide of the far post.
Chloe Ingrouille got her just rewards at the third attempt. With around five minutes left of the first half, she made a brilliant driving run into the box. Her first effort was blocked by Malta, then her second was cleared off the line as she was first to the rebound. But she wasn't to be denied a third time, heading in the resulting corner from close range.
Hedley thought she had made it four just before the break as she turned and shot on the edge of the box, but Malta saved.
The second half was attack v defence. The ever-dangerous Le Flem chased a great ball down the left channel into the area. She cut the ball back for Hedley but Malta reacted well to save from point-blank range.
Captain Candie Bougourd came within a whisker of extended the Green Lionesses' lead, letting fly from distance. Her shot was dipping and Malta was beaten but the ball smacked the crossbar. Gracia Van Zutphen fired over from a corner as the chances kept coming.
Le Flem should have added to her tally as a ball across the box left her with the goal at her mercy, but she screwed wide. Hedley had a couple more chances before she was substituted, dragging wide from the angle and scuffing at Malta.
The final two goals came deep into injury time. First, Donna Gallienne topped off a fine performance from the Green Lionesses as she broke into the area and sent a brilliant strike from the angle that bounced off the far post on its way in.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Ella Brennand earned Wanderers a consolation as she curled in a lovely strike into Emma Queripel's near post. There was barely time to kick-off as the final whistle went on an excellent day's work from Guernsey.
Anna Gauvain's side continue their league campaing at St Peter next Sunday.
GUERNSEY: 1 Emma QUERIPEL; 2 Scarlett GALLAGHER; 3 Mollie WATSON (12 Kirstie MARQUIS); 4 Amy DALLAMORE; 5 Chloe INGROUILLE; 6 Gracia VAN ZUTPHEN; 7 Codie LE FLEM (15 Isla ANDERSON); 8 Candice BOUGOURD (c); 9 Calleigh HEDLEY (14 Sophia GALLIENNE); 10 Donna GALLIENNE; 11 Courtney HICKS.
Highlights will soon be available on our YouTube and social media channels.