Allen: ‘We’ve got nothing to fear’
EIGHT points from an unbeaten four-game run against sides all currently in the Isthmian South-East top five – even their star striker admits that was beyond Guernesy FC’s expectations.
Ross Allen could not suppress his smile in the aftermath of Tuesday’s outstanding 3-1 win away at Ashford United which has left GFC just six points off Hastings United, who went top with their own 3-1 away victory at Whitstable Town.
Hastings had escaped from Footes Lane with a 2-2 draw on Saturday, a week after the Green Lions had drawn at previous leaders Cray Wanderers off the back of a win over Sevenoaks, who now sit in fifth.
‘That run is going to be a huge motivational boost for the rest of the season,’ said Allen.
‘We’ve come through those games against the top teams, they are probably going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, so we’ve got nothing to fear now and we’ve set an expectation for ourselves and the fans.
‘We’ve just got to keep going game by game now, work hard, and it’s another away game out the way and another midweek game – fantastic.’
Allen scored twice against Ashford, with Charlton Gauvain netting the third, and he felt that the game-plan worked a treat as the returning Simon Geall and Angus Mackay sat in front of centre-backs Jamie Dodd and Tom Strawbridge to give GFC a very solid platform while the youngsters employed out wide allowed them to hit quickly on the break.
‘We just made it so hard to breakdown and then we just got them on the counter.
‘We looked like we were going to score every time. I thought we could have had a couple more in the first half, maybe should have and put the game to bed, but got that third one early in the second half and that was the clincher really.
‘Then we just saw out the game brilliantly to the end.’
Allen’s brace took his overall GFC tally to just one shy of 250.
‘It’s a little milestone for me, but the performance and the win was massive tonight,’ he said.
‘I’m delighted to get a couple of goals and help the team and keep this good little run going for me personally … it’s just great. I’m loving being back and scoring goals for Guernsey.’
It was also a big night for Tom Jackson, who made his full debut for the Green Lions.
‘I literally found out three of four hours before the game because my dad called me and said “you’re starting” and I was just like “get in”,’ said the youngster.
‘[I’m] just happy to play really.’
GFC host Hythe Town at Footes Lane on Saturday, 2pm kick-off.
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