Video - GFC frustrated as Hutton's goal ruled out

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

Badshot Lea 2, Guernsey FC 2

HOW quickly things can change in football.

One moment in a great position to enhance their CCL Premier Division promotion quest approaching the last few seconds of the 90 minutes – moments later and everything has gone wrong.

Just 20 seconds were remaining of normal time when Badshot grabbed a deserved equaliser at Wey Court last night, before a period of stoppage time where GFC had a 'goal' from Nigel Hutton not given.

Throw in Egham's dramatic last-gasp penalty equaliser of their own at South Park and it had gone from three points gained by the Green Lions into being as you were at the top of the table.

GFC will feel aggrieved that they lost points in this dramatic encounter so late and even more so when Hutton's thunderbolt clearly looked to have crossed the line.

But, on reflection, this was a fair result.

With fatigue now clearly a big issue for Tony Vance's men, they came up against an excellent Badshot side particularly adept at maintaining possession and a point is far from a disgrace.

Indeed, until Ollie McKenzie chipped in with a rare goal after 36min. that his superb performance on the night fully warranted, GFC could easily have been behind and can count themselves fortunate to lead at the break.

Adam Cornell squandered the best early chance for the hosts, blazing over Chris Tardif's crossbar after being put through, while his knockdown in another move deserved far better than the complete miskick from strike partner Adam Prentice.

Those scares aside, GFC dealt with the Badshot threat admirably despite their underwhelming performance on the ball, with the centre-back pairing of Naro Zimmerman and Jamie Dodd also impressing. Considering the amount of football he has played this season, Dodd's efforts were particularly noteworthy and he would chip in with an assist later, after Hutton missed their first great chance of the night.

With 26min. gone, home keeper Jamie Norris completely hashed his clearance which allowed Dave Rihoy the chance to go for goal. His attempt was just about kept out by the joint efforts of Michael Smith and Callum Cobb.

The rebound fell to Hutton, picture, who steadied himself but could only force a fine one-on-one save out of the now fully-recovered Norris.

The keeper denied Rihoy's powerful rising shot from the very next attack, but when the opener did come, it was through an unexpected avenue.

GFC won a free-kick some 25 yards out and McKenzie stepped forward to bend it in, the delivery excellent as it dipped and then bounced just in front of the diving Norris.

After half-time it was more of the same as Badshot looked stronger on the ball and more threatening, but the visiting back-line looked in control.

That said, it required a magnificent last-ditch block from Matt Drillot to deny Ryan Scott.

However, with 67min. gone, Josh Pearson was given too much time and, after skipping past a couple, unleashed a ferocious angled shot that was brilliantly kept out by Tardif.

It went only as far as Cornell, though, who managed to bundle home from close range.

One thing that GFC do not lack is character and, within two minutes of it becoming 1-1, they had retaken the lead at 2-1 through their tried-and-tested long throw routine.

Dodd's throw was towards Dom Heaume and despite the off-colour big man not winning his header on this occasion, it went over him and found the lively Matt Loaring, who showed great skill to guide across Norris and into the far corner.

The importance of that goal was not lost on anybody, especially with Egham also trailing at this stage and Hutton should have wrapped it up as time wore on, blazing over from close range.

GFC looked solid and well on course for three points but whereas they had pinched a point in the reverse fixture back in November with a last-gasp leveller, Badshot returned the favour, Scott finding the feet of Darren Blake, who equalised with a fine goal.

The drama was not over, however, as a desperate GFC surged forward again and, after Hutton had got on the end of Kieran Mahon's through ball, he hit a thunderbolt from 20 yards that crashed back off the underside of the crossbar.

As it spun and bounced down, it looked like it had crossed the line, which GFC argued vehemently in favour of, but the officials were unmoved and gone was the last chance on a potentially pivotal night in the title race.