IT MAY be into its final month, but this Ryman South promotion race threw up yet another unexpected twist under the Footes Lane floodlights.
Guernsey FC's debut season at this level has been up and down ever since the start and just as it seemed they were closing in on a play-off spot, it was thrown wide open again.
Only a fortnight ago, many Green Lions supporters – there were 993 present on this occasion – were counting down the days until a top-three spot and a home semi-final was secured.
Although that remains a possibility, it is over their shoulders where Tony Vance's men are now looking ever more anxiously at those chasing them.
Merstham's win earlier on Saturday heaped the pressure on GFC because right now, the Moatsiders, who were so impressive here recently, are looking good bets for one of the four spots available.
GFC will hope it isn't at their expense – and need a response – but it didn't come here and, indeed, Saturday night couldn't have gone any worse.
An off-colour performance and result was bad enough. But to lose two of their big name players, who turn in the performances week in, week out, could be devastating.
If GFC are to secure promotion now without Dom Heaume and Jamie Dodd, potentially for the remainder of the campaign, it will take a Herculean effort.
Because here, against an excellent Walton & Hersham who were full value for their three points, fatigue looked like it was starting to catch up with those in green.
There can be few complaints about the outcome because although GFC's performance was average, rather than poor, they were second best for long periods.
Walton played with a drive and intensity that their lowly league position belies and in match-winner Louis Glace-Palmer, had the best player on the park.
His brilliant header in the final minute of the first half proved to be enough and was a real kick in the stomach for the hosts, but typified his performance.
Glace-Palmer ran himself into the ground and was a menace throughout. He was fully deserving of the 10-minute rest he was given at the end.
If strong performers are being picked out of the GFC ranks, they would have been goalkeeper Chris Tardif – again superb – and Tom de la Mare, who did extremely well in centre midfield.
However, it was the lack of a cutting edge in the final third that was fatal as promising attacks time and again came to nothing, barring Ross Allen's sole successful strike.
That came after 8min., but was only an equaliser, coming just seconds after the deadlock had been broken at the other end.
Vance said afterwards that his side looked like conceding every time a cross came in and that was their undoing here, as the hosts failed to fully clear a free-kick.
The ball was hooked back in and met by Vernon Francis, who had the freedom of the box to head goalwards. Although it may have been covered by Tardif, a wicked deflection off Sam Cochrane saw it head in.
But no sooner were they ahead, than Walton had to regroup as GFC won their own free-kick in the centre circle and the quick thinking of Ryan-Zico Black passed forward towards Allen.
It was perfectly weighted and after Allen allowed it to run past him, he swivelled and shot first time into the far corner, a fine left-footed effort from just inside the area.
That frenetic start calmed down slightly and the game settled, but with Walton looking stronger, Carl Gibbs' header was inches away from finding the corner.
It was the wing play of the visitors causing particular problems and Sean Bradley really should have done better from another pinpoint cross, heading straight at Tardif.
The GFC No. 1 was also alert when Angus Mackay's under hit backpass allowed Glace-Palmer to get his shot away, while Dan Coles' save from Allen was the only action at the other end.
And with just seconds remaining until half-time, the deserved goal came for Walton, in cracking style.
The build-up play was fantastic and the cross on the run from left-back Andy Lomas nothing short of sensational, whipped in at pace on the six-yard line.
It demanded somebody to attack it and Glace-Palmer was that man, equalling the quality of the assist with a brilliant header that gave Tardif no chance.
The timing of that goal was a killer for GFC and they never really got going after the break, albeit not helped when Heaume was carried off after Nathan Daly's nasty challenge.
Dave Rihoy did come off the bench to force a fine reaction stop out of Coles and another good parry, but the fluency still never quite reached the hosts' game.
Saying that, the sheer attacking options they have mean chances never totally dry up and it was a mystery how a dangerous corner wasn't scrambled in, instead going millimetres wide.
Dodd had to be alert at the other end to deny Gibbs and the GFC defender again gave a whole-hearted display, including a couple of dangerous marauding runs.
It could have been settled once and for all in the dying stages as Tardif magnificently denied Andrew Mensah's effort, keeping alive hopes of a memorable GFC leveller.
Matt Loaring very nearly provided it in the last minute, but after beating Coles, his effort was cleared off the line.
It would get even worse for GFC, as Dodd dislocated his shoulder and required physio Mike Thomas to pop it back in and allow him to continue.
Summing up Dodd's courage, he continued to be on long throw duty and one final attempt caused a scramble that was cleared and ensured Walton went home with a fully-deserved win.?
TEAMS
Guernsey FC: Tardif, Isabelle, Cochrane, Mackay, Dodd, de la Mare, Black, Jordan (Rihoy 46), Loaring, Heaume (Alvarez 51), Allen.
Walton & Hersham: Coles, Daly (Salami 65), Scarlett, Mudge, Lomas, Bradley, Clark, Francis, Wedgeworth, Gibbs (Mensah 74), Glace-Palmer (Hemmings 80).
Referee: A. Da Costa.
