Duffy salvages point after Morgan's stunner

Guernsey 2, Dorset 2

GUERNSEY will not win group A of the South-West Counties League, but those of us who have criticised the worth of playing such games may have to think again. The first-ever meeting at senior level between the group A counties produced three absolutely cracking strikes, including the goal of the season, last-gasp drama, one masterful individual performance and any number of encouraging ones by some of the youngsters Steve Ogier has had to push forward earlier than perhaps expected.

This was a game the green-and-whites did not deserve to lose but were within a minute of doing so.

A game which they generally dominated looked to have been cruelly snatched from them when shortly after Jody Bisson was rendered lame by a bad challenge, Dorset capitalised on his injury seemingly to sew up the three points.

Any other day Bisson would have picked up Ian Edwards' 35-yard skimmer as simply as plucking a ripe blackberry.

With all three subs having been utilised due to injuries, Bisson had little choice but to continue. But, as he struggled to lower himself to collect Edwards' harmless effort, he fumbled the ball for a corner which, when swung over, was headed home by Darren Powell and past a keeper who on any other day would have snapped it up with minimal fuss.

Guernsey were beaten, or so we thought.

With stoppage time ticking to its close, Dorset goalkeeper Wayne Robins, who had previously made a couple of superb reflex saves, gave Guernsey a sniff of a consolation.

The keeper hit an attempted clearance straight at Dominic Heaume 35 yards out and the young Saint played a controlled volley straight into the path of the impressive Darragh Duffy.

In a flash, Duffy marked his island debut with a fierce right-foot finish which left Robins with no chance of stopping it.

The strike was richly deserved.

Time will determine how good a side Dorset are, but regardless of the result, there were many plus points for the unfortunate Steve Ogier who has enough problems moulding a Muratti-winning side without having to lose players with misguided priorities.

If Ogier did not have enough selection headaches already, to lose four in 90 minutes was cruel.

James McColl lasted 10 minutes before limping off with a worrying knee injury.

Before the break, Vale Rec colleague Matt Falla had joined him with an ankle knock and having bravely soldiered on with a worsening groin, skipper John Nobes finally gave in to the pain with 15min. left. Then came the Bisson injury to cap it all.

But Ogier's youngsters did him and themselves proud and they were shown the way by the old guard at the back and a masterful showing by man-of-the-match Trim Morgan.

His was a classic performance and the goal on 15min., which rewarded a bright opening for the home side, will long be remembered by those fortunate to see it.

Slipped a pass by Dominic Heaume just into the opposition half, he took one glance goalwards and drove a pinpoint 45-yard shot high over the keeper and into the net.

Morgan said it was his best-ever goal.

'I took a touch and thought I'd smack it.'

Morgan was an inspiration; his dominance of central midfield and self-control after his annus horribilis were a joy to witness.

Nobes might have been wearing the captain's armband but Morgan was the leader, and a proud one, too.

'We played some good football at times,' he said in the players' tunnel afterwards.

Adopting the role of father-figure, he added: 'I'm happy with that performance from the young lads.'

And so he should have been. Alongside him, Darren Martin was a fine foil and on the right Heaume, although out of position, played with unflustered control and touch.

Wide on the left Dave Rihoy may have seen a good deal less of the ball than he does at North, but he did a job, as did club-mate Olly McKenzie who coped manfully after replacing McColl.

But after a confident, flowing start, Guernsey had become guilty of some sloppy passing and losing the initiative when Dorset levelled on 33 minutes.

Dorchester Town's Aaron Lomax was left far too much room wide on the left and with one swipe of his right foot crashed his own piledriver, hit from all of 30 yards, into the top corner.

In the second period, both sides had chances to win it.

Robins made superb stops to deny Rihoy and Heaume, while at the other end, Jamie Holland twice squandered clear opportunities.

On 90min., Martin crashed a 30-yarder inches too high before the sides traded those late goals to produce a point apiece.