Five-star show by Guernsey FC

FORTRESS Footes Lane was rebuilt – and then some – as Guernsey FC romped to Ryman South victory in breathtaking style on Saturday afternoon.

The Green Lions have rattled in five or more on numerous occasions in their early days on home soil, but that was the Combined Counties League and – with the greatest respect – a world away from this level. It makes it even more remarkable given the competitiveness of this early league table and, as they now embark on a momentum-building winning run that is shooting them up the standings, this surely has to go down as one of their finest successes.

From back to front, they were excellent and had it not been for Ronnie Dolan's late consolation, it would have been the perfect day for Tony Vance's men, who were able to ease Alex Le Prevost back into action as well. His presence on the subs bench, with Tom de la Mare, Tom Martin and Nigel Hutton, shows the options Vance now has at his disposal.

Ryan-Zico Black is starting to find his way again as his comeback continues and he put on assists for the first two goals, alongside the consistently excellent Dom Heaume, while Tom Strawbridge's excellence at the back was again noticeable. But yet again, not for the first time and unlikely to be the last, man-of-the-match Ross Allen (pictured) took the plaudits – and his 18th match ball – after a quite breathtaking hat-trick terrorised the visiting 'Forters' and took his tally to eight goals in his last three games.

With Matt Loaring again running his socks off and Marc McGrath putting in a tireless shift, Vance has attacking options at his disposal that will be the envy of much of this league, and when it comes to sending out statements, this did that and more.

The early season worries and inconsistencies are well out of the way now and in the early stages of this one, GFC showed a vibrancy that suggested they were up for it against a very good Hythe outfit.

Final score: Guernsey FC 5, Hythe Town 1. Full report in today's Guernsey Press. Picture by Andy Dovey.