A point is least GFC deserve
THREE games without a goal now, but Tony Vance was a much more satisfied man as Guernsey FC picked up a valuable point away at Chichester City on Saturday.
The Green Lions travelled without numerous first-team regulars, but put in a much-improved performance following the disappointing home defeat in midweek to Whitstable Town and left disappointed that they could not find a winner, although the GFC manager praised his ‘brave’ players.
Remarkably, it was only the 10th goalless draw in GFC’s history, also their second in three games.
‘A few years ago we wouldn’t have had a 0-0 in us and we seem to doing a few now,’ said Vance.
‘[Callum Stanton] made some good saves today, but then so did their goalkeeper and I think we troubled their goalkeeper far more than they troubled Cal and that’s normally a reflection on the game.
‘We were really positive and good on the ball on a really difficult surface and credit to the players for do that. We managed to play through them quite well, it was a good performance, the only thing that was missing was the goals really.’
Alex Scott, the 16-year-old who will be joining Bristol City in January, came closest to breaking the deadlock for the Green Lions, only to be denied by a smart save from Chichester City goalkeeper Steven Mowthorpe.
‘He’s getting a bit of stick because he hasn’t scored for us, goes on trial to Bristol City, plays 45 minutes and scores a hat-trick, so I think he’s saving those goals for them,’ Vance joked about his teenage protegé.
‘But he was outstanding again today, another 90 minutes of top class for a young 16-year-old and should have scored, but good save by the goalkeeper in all fairness.’
Vance also picked out Kieran Mahon and Tom de la Mare for special praise, saying that the former played with ‘drive’ throughout the 90 minutes while the latter looked ‘classy’ filling in at centre-back in the absence of both Tom Strawbridge and Frank Tobin.
GFC remain seventh in Isthmian South East while Hastings United still lead the way but suffered their first league defeat of the season, going down by the only goal at fourth-placed Ashford United.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
