Building blocks in place for successful campaign

Wiltshire 0, Guernsey 1

'WE ARE going in the right direction,' was Steve Ogier's apt assessment of this promising Guernsey display that produced a fine result in Melksham. The building blocks are certainly there, it is just unfortunate that Ogier has to wait until well into the new year before his side has another SWCC fixture.

On this evidence, though, when the Navy and the Army visit within nine days of each other in February, Guernsey should be well up for the challenge.

Everyone played their part in this victory and the mixture of youth and experience Ogier put out worked impressively.

The back four, in particular, were outstanding.

John Nobes and Stuart Polson always provide a solid base at centre-back and were as assured as ever, but it was the two teenagers either side of them who really caught the eye.

Sam Cochrane and Olly McKenzie grew in stature as the game progressed.

In central midfield, the Darren Martin-Trim Morgan combination again worked well and it was promising to see the younger player, who is better known for his composure on the ball, showing good tenacity in his defensive duties after Guernsey had taken the lead.

Out wide, Dave Rihoy and Dominic Heaume posed threats in their different ways while up front, Jon Veron and Darragh Duffy worked tirelessly even though they were fairly quiet when in possession. Their replacements late on, Alex Hunter and Joby Bourgaize, both did their job effectively.

It was the visitors who made the much brighter start, playing some good, neat football in the opening couple of minutes, and Morgan went close with a left-foot curler from the edge of the box.

Things started to go awry following the opening exchanges, though, as the passing became sloppy and Guernsey started giving Wiltshire chances to counter attack rather than the hosts doing anything special themselves. Both Alan Griffin and Nick Mooney had chances to opening the scoring within the opening half-hour.

The most worrying moment came after a quarter-of-an-hour when there was a miscommunication between Polson and Jody Bisson which ended in the two colliding and the defender requiring treatment for a head injury.

Fortunately, the Northerner was able to continue and he was excellent for the remainder of the match.

Towards the end of the opening period, though, Guernsey started playing again and they always looked dangerous in the final third.

Their persistence was rewarded on 43min. when Martin played a well-weighted ball for Rihoy to run onto down the left.

The winger patiently toyed with Jamie Cheeseman until support arrived in the area and he delivered a far post cross which his clubmate Veron nodded back across the box for Heaume to head home.

Guernsey improved in the second half when they made Wiltshire's one-man advantage in midfield far less noticeable.

Heaume and Duffy both had opportunities to extend the lead before the hosts, refreshed by a couple of substitutions, began pushing for the equaliser.

In truth, though, Bisson had no save of note to make, with Toby Colbourne, a scorer against Guernsey last year, fluffing the best chance when just a few yards out.

With Wiltshire committing more men forward in the final 10 minutes, Guernsey could, and should, have made the game safe.

Craig Chaplin made a good save from Morgan's acute-angled shot and from the rebound Hunter's effort was headed off the line by Frank Colman. The Vale Rec man was then denied by an even better save from Chaplin following a neat one-two with the St Martin's front man.

Deep into injury time, Hunter had a golden opportunity to mark his senior island debut with a goal at the culmination of a counter-attack but, when through one-on-one he struck his shot straight at the keeper's feet.