METROPOLITAN POLICE 3 (Lowery 17’; Galloway (pen) 52’; Kirlew-Wright 90+4’)
GUERNSEY 3 (Wallbridge 22’; Allen (pen) 41’; Murray 48’)
Guernsey let another two-goal lead slip to have victory snatched away from them at the death at Imber Court on Saturday.
The Green Lions were holding on going into the dying moments but one final Metropolitan Police throw of the dice saw the hosts deny the Sarnians a first win against their opponents with a strike that the visitors claimed whistled wide, but the referee claimed passed through a hole in the net.
Tony Vance's side were unlucky, having put in another strong performance, but the number of late goals conceded and the trend of being unable to hold onto a lead is frustrating.
Sam Murray put GFC in a commanding position just after the break after Owen Wallbridge and Ross Allen had cancelled out Archie Lowery's opener. But a penalty from Mason Galloway and a last-ditch effort from Kynan Kirlew-Wright meant Guernsey's wait for a second win of the season will stretch into November.
Noah Amissah headed over the bar in an early warning but it was Archie Lowery who gave his side the lead on 17 minutes, getting the final touch after a corner led to some head tennis in the Guernsey penalty area.
The Green Lions responded well and were level within five minutes. Wallbridge collected a loose on the edge of the box as Met Police could only half clear a deep cross from Fin Du Port, and volleyed in low for his first goal of the season.
The Sarnians turned it round a few minutes before half-time as Jacques Cauvin was pulled back as he ran into the area and Allen chalked up goal number 299 from the spot, placing it bottom-right.
GFC were quick out of the traps after the break and doubled their lead within three minutes of the restart, with Murray stooping low at the far post to head home Charlton Gauvain's free-kick and bag his 25th goal for the club, taking him ahead of Ryan-Zico Black.
But the lead was slashed only four minutes later as Amissah tangled with Tom Vaudin and won a penalty, which was converted by Galloway.
Met Police couldn't have left it any later to snatch a point as Kirlew-Wright levelled it up four minutes into injury time. The hosts celebrated his volley from the edge of the box after some head tennis in the area, but Josh Addison went behind his goal to collect the ball after it bounced off the back fence and into the net behind the goal. The referee claimed the ball had gone through a small hole in the side of the net. The angle of the GFCTV camera makes it difficult to be sure, but some Guernsey players protested that the shot had gone wide. But after a lengthy discussion with his assistant, the referee allowed the goal to stand and Guernsey's three points were gone.
Allen did break forward from kick off and force a final save from Zack Basey at his near post, but this was another kick in the teeth for Vance's side.
Guernsey remain 21st in Isthmian South Central but can take some comfort that every other team around them lost. Saturday’s full set of results is as follows: Ascot United 1-1 Leatherhead, Badshot Lea 1-3 Soutahll, Farnham Town 2-2 Horndean, Harrow Borough 2-1 Moneyfields, Hayes & Yeading United 3-2 Hartley Wintney, Rayners Lane 2-1 Ashford Town, Raynes Park Vale 2-4 Binfield, Sutton Common Rovers 0-2 Hanworth Villa, Westfield 0-5 Kingstonian.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH; 5 Tom VAUDIN; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN; 8 Matt LOARING; 9 Sam MURRAY (20 Alex WARD, 89’); 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Owen WALLBRIDGE (4 Tom DODDS, 66‘); 12 Fin DU PORT (14 Simon ARNOLD, 62’); 18 Dave MERRIS; 21 Jacques CAUVIN.
Booked: Gauvain.
METROPOLITAN POLICE: 1 Zack BASEY; 2 Izvnna IKEBUASI; 3 Cadell Fraser ROBINS (15 Joshua BASSEY, 61’); 4 Ryan DAVEY; 5 Laurence ERNEST (17 Igor De Oliveira SOUZA, 61’); 6 Kynan KIRLEW-WRIGHT; 7 Benjamin MENDOZA (16 Ayoub ENAJAR, 81’); 8 Archie LOWERY (14 Charlie BROWN, 61’); 9 Noah AMISSAH; 10 Mason GALLOWAY; 11 Wilson BERNAL. Not used: 12 Alfie WATERS.
Booked: Amissah.
Highlights will soon be available on our YouTube and social media channels.