Guernsey Press

Video - Green Lions suffer at the hands of Villains

Hanworth Villa 2, Guernsey FC 1

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All the goals from the Green Lions games against Hanworth Villa and Badshot Lea

Credit for GFC highlights:

Video courtesy of GFCTV in partnership with kings.gg

Hanworth Villa 2, Guernsey FC 1

TWELVE games out from the finishing line and Guernsey FC may well have to make it the perfect CCL Premier Division dozen after this latest setback on a below-par night in west London.

They did at least prove that they will fight their way to the bitter end, as a fabulous late assault very nearly produced an improbable comeback against an excellent Hanworth Villa side.

But had they added to Matt Loaring's strike at the beginning of a marathon nine minutes of stoppage time, it would have been mightily unfair on the hosts, who defied their current mid-table league position.

On the night, they were full value for their win and had much the better of the general balance of play, with GFC far from their best for most of the encounter and it took them going 2-0 down before they really started to play.

A quick double-strike on 71min. and 73min. from Andrew Juett and Ricky Farnden were ultimately the winning blows, but the 'Villains' could easily have been ahead well before that, particularly in the first half.

It was the visiting Green Lions who started the mild night off stronger and looked dangerous at times, particularly through the excellent Craig Young, but a lack of extra striking firepower saw them lose the penetration their possession warranted.

Young did nearly make the breakthrough when he pounced on a poor defensive back pass and rounded home keeper Terry Buss, but his effort from a tight angle hit the post and Matt Loaring fluffed the simple rebound.

Loaring had another glorious opportunity when his superb first touch from Young's clipped pass sent him through on goal, but this time he blazed high and wide when in sight of the opener.

The same man had already forced another one-on-one save from Buss, on a frustrating night for Loaring, but those aside, the best chances presented themselves at the other end in the first 45 minutes.

Time and again, though, decent build-up work was wasted by Juett's profligacy in front of goal and he never even came close to troubling GFC keeper James Hamon, with the large expanse behind the goal often being found.

Hamon was called upon once, though, when he made an absolutely stunning one-handed reaction save to deny Anthony Oaks' powerful effort, which looked a certain goal.

The teenager also just about denied the excellent Levi King's effort through a mixture of luck and the woodwork, but his penalty area was to come under even more threat after half-time.

Until they scored the opener, Hanworth absolutely battered GFC for a sustained period and only poor finishing, last-ditch defending and decent goalkeeping kept them at bay.

Hamon tipped away Farnden's long-range effort and King missed a header from the resulting corner, resulting in a clash of heads that left Tom Strawbridge requiring stitches, although he played through for the duration.

Nigel Hutton added to the Lions' attacking options when he was introduced after surprisingly being left on the bench, but the chances continued at the other end and Villa were eventually rewarded with Juett's effort.

He broke the GFC offside trap and was through on goal, finally finding the necessary composure to poke past Hamon coolly and break the deadlock.

Loaring had a point-blank effort blocked on the line as the visitors sought a response, very nearly turning in Young's mishit shot, but, moments later, it was 2-0 as the GFC defence fell asleep.

Juett's cross in from the left was decent, but Farnden was given acres of space in being left unmarked in the area and he made no mistake, diverting his header across Hamon into the far corner.

GFC now had a mountain to climb, but, to their great credit, they gave it a real go and for the remaining time created chances at will and on another day might have not only levelled it, but gone on to win.

Jamie Dodd blazed over from close range after a chaotic goalmouth scramble, while substitute Matt Warren somehow did not score when his downwards header at the back post was remarkably kept out by Buss' feet.

Even with only seconds of normal time now remaining, Hutton hit the inside of the post when he flicked on Loaring's cross, before Loaring did finally find the back of the net with 92min. already played, tapping home after Buss had dropped a routine cross.

Nobody was expecting there to be as much time on Peter Meeks' watch as there turned out to be, although Strawbridge's injury and another Hanworth injury in that already added time took it to a lengthy 9min.

There was nearly the most dramatic ending imaginable when a powerful goal-bound effort was heroically blocked by a Hanworth body and that was the Lions' final chance at a leveller gone.

James Hamon interviewed by Matt Lihou

Video courtesy of GFCTV in partnership with kings.gg

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