HORNDEAN  2 (Blankson 29’; Allcock 58’)
GUERNSEY    3 (Murray 3’; Allen 45+2’; Loaring 74’)

In a young team, once again it was Guernsey’s old guard as Sam Murray, Ross Allen and Matt Loaring bagged to get the Green Lions finally off and running for the season.

It was also the Sarnian’s first win since March, and ended a run of 16 games without a victory – failure to win this one and we would have matched our longest ever winless streak set in 2019.

This was also a team without a whole host of experienced and key players – Jamie Dodd, Tom Dodds, Dave Merris, Kieran Mahon were all missing from Tony Vance’s defensive option – but boosted by the return of Charlton Gauvain, who was to have an instant impact with as he turned provider for all three of Guernsey’s goals.

GFC started brightly up a considerable slope at Five Heads Park and were ahead inside three minutes. Gauvain collected from Allen on the left, worked some space and delivered an inch perfect cross to the far post for Murray to head home – a classic goal for our number nine that takes him level with Ryan-Zico Black on 24 goals, joint ninth in the all-time list. Glyn Dyer on 26 is the next player in his sights.

After a spell of defending in with the visitors held firm, Lloyd Thomas was called into action for Horndean as he held from Loaring, who fired straight at him after a nicely worked move involving Simon Arnold.

But the hosts were level just before the half-hour. A long ball from left to right beat the Guernsey defence found Rudi Blankson, who ran onto it and finished powerfully into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

The restoring of the Green Lions’ lead couldn’t have come at a better time as skipper for the day Ross Allen opened his account for the season in first-half stoppage-time, taking him to within just four goals of his next milestone of 300.

It was a goal straight off the training ground from one of GFC’s famed corner routines, initially earned by a blistering strike from outside the box from Gauvain that Thomas tipped onto the post. Allen provided the decoy, providing enough distraction for Gauvain to dart along the byline and collect off taker Loaring. By this time, Allen had spun away to collect Gauvain’s first-time lay-off. The pass ran perfectly into the area for him and the number 10 took aim from just inside the box, lobbing the ball out of Thomas’s reach into the far corner. A goal noteworthy for both its beauty and tact.

Guernsey had dealt with the slope well and would have it in their favour in the second half, but were expecting a significant response from the hosts given their strong start to the season.

Vance’s side almost extended their lead in identical fashion shortly before the hour. This time, Allen played the decoy, allowing Gauvain to take aim for the far corner, but he just missed the target.

GFC were punished for that miss just a minute later as the Deans levelled again. A clearance was picked up by Daniel Sibley, who beat his man and picked out Billy Allcock inside the box, with the number 11 unleashing a powerful strike into the top corner, prompting shouts of frustration from the Guernsey dugout at the poor defending.

Perhaps this game marks a change in fortunes as GFC may perhaps have gone on to lose from here previously. There was another scare as Blankson fired over on the half volley having been picked out at the far post from a corner, but the Sarnians renewed their focus and got the winner with a quarter of an hour to play.

It was Gauvain again, making it a hat-trick of assists as he delivered a dangerous ball into the middle, and there was Matt Loaring stretching to head home from close range.

This time, the visitors held onto their lead and came away satisfied with their afternoon’s work. The three points weren’t quite enough to elevate us out of the relegation zone thanks to South Park getting a point, but hopefully this is the kick-start out season needed.

A word, too, for Josh Addison, who made his 100th appearance for the club, becoming the 25th player to do so and only the second goalkeeper after Chris Tardif.

Next up – big spending leaders Farnham Town at Footes Lane. Doesn’t get any easier does it?!

Saturday’s other Isthmian South Central results were as follows: Ascot United 2-3 Raynes Park Vale, Farnham Town 2-1 Metropolitan Police, Hanworth Villa 1-1 Moneyfields, Kingstonian 7-1 Binfield, Leatherhead 0-1 Hayes & Yeading United, Rayners Lane 2-2 Badshot Lea, South Park (Reigate) 1-1 Westfield, Southall 1-1 Hartley Wintney, Uxbridge 2-1 Ashford Town.

HORNDEAN: 1 Lloyd THOMAS; 2 Robert TAW (c); 3 Cade DYER; 4 Jordan PILE; 5 Kyle BAILEY; 6 Lewis COLVIN (12 Kelvin ROBINSON, 77’); 7 Casey BARTLETT-SCOTT; 8 Rudi BLANKSON; 9 Daniel SIBLEY; 10 Freddie CHESTER (14 Liam CALLAGHAN, 61’); 11 Billy ALLCOCK. Not used: 15 Tommy SCUTT; 16 Zackary WILLETT, 21 Cameron SCOTT.

Booked: Blankson.

GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 5 Tom VAUDIN; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (20 Alex WARD, 86’); 8 Matt LOARING; 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Owen WALLBRIDGE (17 Brandon WALLACE, 63’); 12 Fin DU PORT; 14 Simon ARNOLD (25 Oscar LEADBEATER, 74’).

Booked: Arnold.

Attendance: 101.

Look out for highlights on our YouTube and social media channels soon.