RAYNES PARK VALE   5 (Gallagher 4', 67'; Penny 23'; Green 25'; Barnes 90')
GUERNSEY                   4 (Wallbridge 24'; Murray 47', 78', 87')

Guernsey may not have ended their winless run in their final outing of the season, but at least they had a good go and were part of a nine-goal thriller at Raynes Park Vale.

Just like at Footes Lane in January, Vale struck in the dying minutes to win the game, but the Green Lions had fought back terrifically in the second half to level at 4-4, with Sam Murray bagging his first hat-trick for the club and passing the 20-goal mark in the process.

After just one goal in 19 matches in the first half of the season, Murray has finished the campaign in stunning form, with nine goals in eight games since returning from injury. The goals have been shared around a little bit more this season, with Murray joining Matt Loaring, Ross Allen and Charlton Gauvain in reaching double figures – the first time that many players have managed it since the free-scoring days of the Combined Counties leagues, and the Sarnians ended the season with the most goals they have scored for seven years.

It is the other end that Tony Vance will be targeting serious improvement next season, with a dreadful 40 goals shipped in those 11 winless games, although there have been some mitigating circumstances in some of those.

Dave Rihoy captained the side on what could be the 39-year-old’s final appearance. Having bagged a goal on Wednesday, he signed off for the season with an assist and we wait to hear if he plans to give it one more year.

Raynes Park had some frustration of their own to get out of their system, having been confirmed as having at least another season at this level thanks to Westfield securing the final play-off spot with a win in midweek. They had a go straight from kick-off, with Josh Addison required to save it within five seconds, and a follow-up shot whistled just wide.

Vale meant business, and top scorer Jordan Gallagher capitalised on the fast start by opening the scoring inside four minutes, guiding the ball into the corner after getting on the end of Jordan Stepney’s diagonal ball over the defence.

Allen nearly had Guernsey level instantly as Murray flicked on a free-kick to tee up the number 10. But with home stopper Billy Bishop beaten, Nathan Lewis got back to clear off the line.

The home side also struck the post in the frantic opening 10 minutes, but it took until midway through the half to spark another relentless few minutes, starting with Charlie Penny doubling Vale’s lead from close range at a corner after Stepney’s initial effort had hit the bar.

Only a minute later, Owen Wallbridge finished from close range after excellent work by Gauvain on the right, with Murray scuffing the initial cutback before Wallbridge swept home for his fifth of a promising debut season.

But any chance to build on that was instantly snuffed out as Jermaine Green fired into the roof of the net from close range, again on the rebound as Gallagher’s initial chance had hit the bar.

Vance’s side made it to half-time without any further damage inflicted and they were able to regroup, starting with Murray turning in Jacques Cauvin’s cutback to the edge of the box to make it 3-2 less than two minutes after the restart.

Another cool finish from Gallagher, this time as he got in behind from Seanan McKillop’s ball, put daylight between the sides again midway through the half to potentially snuff out any hopes of another comeback.

But Murray had something to say about that. Having first teed up Brandon Wallace for an effort that was kept out by a last ditch block, he got on the end of Rihoy’s low delivery to the far post as GFC recycled the ball - game on again with little over 10 minutes to go.

They couldn’t do it again could they? Yes they certainly could, with Murray and Cauvin combining again as the latter pounced on a loose clearance and clipped a lovely cross to the far post for the former to stoop and head back across goal into the bottom corner to complete a treble and another dramatic recovery with less than five minutes left on the clock.

However, this time the Green Lions couldn’t hold what they had as substitute Tom Barnes headed in at the far post to snatch a late victory for Raynes Park for the second time this season.

This time, there was not late miracle as a spirited GFC performance went unrewarded.

Ashford Town’s win over Metropolitan Police meant the Green Lions had to settle for an 18^th placed-finish, pipping Binfield on goal difference. Saturday’s other Isthmian South Central results were as follows: Binfield 1-1 Uxbridge, Chertsey Town 2-1 Badshot Lea, Leatherhead 3-0 Hartley Wintney, Marlow 3-1 Hanworth Villa, Metropolitan Police 0-2 Ashford Town, Northwood 2-3 Ascot United, Southall A-A Chipstead (Southall were leading 2-0, CHIPSTEAD ARE RELEGATED), Thatcham Town 1-0 Sutton Common Rovers, Westfield 3-0 Corinthian-Casuals.

GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Jacques CAUVIN ; 3 Dave MERRIS ; 4 Tom DODDS ; 5 Tom VAUDIN (14 Seb VANCE, 69’); 6 Ben SOLWAY; 7 Charlton GAUVAIN (15 Brandon WALLACE, HT); 8 Dave RIHOY (c); 9 Sam MURRAY; 10 Ross ALLEN; 11 Owen WALLBRIDGE (12 Niall HAINSWORTH, 61’).

RAYNES PARK VALE: 1 Billy BISHOP; 2 Callum HOPE; 4 Jordan STEPNEY; 5 Nathan LEWIS (14 Tom BARNES, 61’); 7 Brad SWEENEY; 10 Jordan GALLAGHER (19 Bradley WILSON, 72’; 11 Daniel MOODY; 15 Jermaine GREEN; 16 Seanan McKILLOP; 18 James DICKSON; 20 Charlie PENNY (8 Louie DOWNEY, 61’). Not used: 6 Jerry O’SULLIVAN; 17 Danny DUDLEY.

Attendance: 315.

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