Stanton's broken hand fears for GFC

That was the tale of woe from Footes Lane on Saturday where Tony Vance raged against the officials’ refusal to acknowledge Tom De la Mare’s shot had crossed the line when the home team were already a goal up and flying.

Ultimately, GFC slipped to a 3-1 loss and are now down to 14th place in the Isthmian South East table.

‘The first 15 to 20 minutes we were opening them up and it is so disappointing because it should have been 2-0,’ said Vance.

‘The ball went over the line and how the officials didn’t see that is beyond me. It makes a massive difference because we were on top and we should have been two up. It was the turning point for us and we then allowed them to get on top.

‘They started dominating the officials, dominating the 50-50s and the game. That turning point killed us.’

To make matters potentially much worse for the home side, Cal Stanton, their outstanding UK-based goalkeeper, cut a sorry figure in the tunnel afterwards, clutching his right knuckle which he feared was broken, the result of punching a steel gate on the way into the dressing room at half time when Vance gave his team a few harsh words.

‘I said a few comments that I wanted to see a vast improvement second half and we were much better and perhaps should have got a draw,’ said a crest-fallen coach.

There is a little relief though.

The Green Lions’ walking wounded were supposed to be at Three Bridges on Tuesday night, but even before the injuries to Stanton and Harry Tobin the English side had agreed to postpone the game as the entire GFC Island-based contingent were keen to support their skipper, Jamie Dodd, at his father’s funeral.

• Match report in Monday's Guernsey Press.