Heaume pulls the strings as Green Lions rampage

Guernsey FC 9, Sheerwater 0

A FIFTH hat-trick of the campaign for Ross Allen, another man-of-the match performance from Dominic Heaume and Sheerwater predictably outclassed.

All watched by another whopping Footes Lane crowd – this time 1,465, marginally down on the two previous home games.

Life is sweet for the Green Lions, six points clear at the top of the table, yet it could have been more sweeter.

How the home side did not reach double figures was beyond everyone present to watch another one-sided goal feast.

When the ninth went in on 82min. it seemed inevitable the Lions would hit double figures for the first time, but the effervescent Matt Loaring lobbed a golden chance onto the top of the crossbar and over and Heaume, who had just been announced as man-of-the-match, did a Torres.

Yes, the chance was so easy and so, ultimately, were the prey in all blue.

And, as incredible as it might seem, Guernsey did not play very well for a long time.

It took them fully 34 minutes to get their noses in front as Sheerwater dug in and the home side were a mite too casual for their own good.

But by half-time it was 2-0 and everyone knew the points were in the proverbial bag.

Tony Vance talks, quite rightly, about respecting the opposition, but his side were far too good for an unfit Sheerwater side who were dropping like flies from early on.

Guernsey's attacking options are getting better by the week.

Even without Glyn Dyer, Dave Rihoy and Craig Young, not to mention the newly-arrived but still not cleared Kiwi junior international Rhys Jordan, the danger is not lessened by the emergence of the sparkling Loaring and the highly-talented Luke Winch.

Both youngsters got their names on the scoresheet and deservedly so after fine individual performances, which in many ways outstripped the clinical Allen who finished with four in the 67 minutes he was on the pitch.

Yet for all their goals and the stack of chances which were to be created on the wide expanses of another belting Shane Moon pitch, Guernsey were sloppy early on and the visitors had the first shots on goal, not to mention the opening corner.

The visitors were aggressive, too, striker Danny Bennett taking less than two minutes to flatten Ryan-Zico Black who was to come in for some tough treatment in the opening period.

Slowly but surely Guernsey took a grip on proceedings and the chances came.

Black thought he had opened the scoring on 22 minutes and so, too, did the stadium announcer, who joyfully relayed the news Guernsey were one up while fans bemoaned the fact that a linesman's flag had gone up.

Black was also involved in an incident with the visiting keeper Tony Davis, which saw the latter bowl the Guernsey player over with a strong push to the chest.

The home crowd urged a red card, but referee Andrew Connor rightly awarded only yellow.

Allen's first touch had been letting him down somewhat in the opening half-hour but it finally came good.

No sooner had he cut in from the right and forced Davis into a good near-post block, Allen was nipping in front of defenders to meet Heaume's by-line ball into the six-yard box. One nil.

Six minutes later and with stoppage time being added Heaume lashed the second high into the net from Black's pass after some intricate passing among the home attack.

'The first half we were a bit laboured and didn't have a quick enough tempo,' said Vance afterwards.

'We're normally a bit sharper than that and we played into their hands a little bit.'

But, after a few half-time words from the boss, the Lions fairly roared on their return into the late September sun.

Sheerwater were out on their feet and Vance's men took the opportunity to significantly boost their goal difference, not that it is likely to matter the way things are panning out.

On 50min. it was 3-0, Allen shooting under Davis's outstretched body after superbly turning the statuesque Sheerwater No. 4, Andy Matthews, by far the tallest player on the pitch.

Three minutes later the striker was upended in the box but Davis made a super save to his right to keep out the spot-kick, and after the ball was turned back into the six-yard box a visiting defender clattered an attempted clearance onto the crossbar.

Sheerwater were becoming increasingly desperate, tired and overrun.

Chris Mauger came on for an injured Black and with Jacques Isabelle pushing forward into midfield, there was no let up with the attacking.

On 59min. Allen superbly glanced a header in off the far post to complete his hat-trick and on 65 Heaume drove home a superb fifth after a cheeky and clever back-heel by Allen at the end of a lovely move down the right.

A minute later Allen again highlighted his growing skills in making goals for others with a wonderful through ball inside the full back for Winch to run into and, brilliantly, chip over Davis and into the net.

It then became three goals in three minutes as Allen fortuitously got his fourth by way of being in the way of Angus Mackay's goal bound shot.

Almost immediately, Allen was withdrawn to give Sheerwater marginal respite.

Not that it was much as Winch and Loaring buzzed about like end-of-summer wasps and Heaume moved forward to lead the line in the clever fashion his versatility allows.

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining Heaume lashed in his third after hitting the post in the same move and for the ninth he turned provider as Loaring finally got the goal he richly merited.

'The second half the boys played really well,' said Vance.

In response, to whether it is all too easy for his team, he replied: 'Ultimately we are improving the style which I'm trying to impose.

'Of course the real test is whether we can do it against a strong side.

'But at the end of the day we're not letting our opponents play.'

John Cook, one of Sheerwater's joint managers, admitted his side should be fitter and bemoaned the injuries which hurt his team from early on.

'We've had injuries with two hamstrings going.

'You've got pace and done us. But we are better than that.

'Good luck to Guernsey and hope they get promoted.'

And as the weeks go by it may well be that more and more Division One sides will be glad to see the back of a team which only a mad man would suggest won't gain promotion.Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League: Guernsey FC go six points clear at top of the table in front of 1,465 fans at Footes Lane