Seventeen-year-olds shine at both ends of the pitch
TWO 17-year-olds stole the limelight as Guernsey FC picked up a valuable midweek point on the road on Tuesday night.
Keene Domaille came off the bench to score his first goal for the Green Lions in the 1-1 draw at Binfield while at the other end of the pitch goalkeeper Lucas Hanley made a terrific double save in injury time to ensure his fellow teenager’s equaliser did not go to waste. As well as the point that brings GFC within three of Tooting & Mitcham United in the Isthmian South Central table and within four of next opponents Thatcham Town.
The two youngsters also earned the praise of their manager.
‘Everyone who has been involved in coaching Keene so far in his career is aware that he will score goals – he is a natural finisher and loves scoring goals,’ said Tony Vance.
‘I’m delighted that he has committed to GFC and started his journey with us positively. It is important we keep working with him, because there will be ups and downs, but I am really pleased for him and everyone who has had some involvement with his football.
‘Lucas made quite a few good saves in the game and the double one at the end was outstanding to make sure we got some reward because it would have been harsh had we thrown it away.’
A youthful GFC side had made a bright start at Hill Farm Lane, but fell behind to a 14th minute penalty converted by Liam Tack after Sean Moore had been brought down in the box.
Vance felt that his side should have had their own penalty for handball before half-time, but went into the interval still trailing by the single goal.
A knee injury to Kyle Smith saw Domaille introduced to the action at the start of the second half, but it was his fellow striker Will Fazakerley who won GFC a penalty early on in the period only to see his own spot kick saved by Chris Grace.
The equaliser came on 64min. when Domaille turned home Tom Jackson’s clever cross.
The scorer had an opportunity late on to put his side ahead, but after opting to cut back inside rather than take the shot early, desperate Binfield defence blocked his attempt.
Hanley then came up with his heroics to deny Binfield substitutes Ollie Harris and Dylan Ive to keep the score at 1-1.
‘It was excellent – the team were a team, if that makes sense,’ was Vance’s assessment of his side’s display.
‘The lads worked out that the average age of our starting team was just 22 and we threw a back four together for the game, so for a Tuesday night away trip in those circumstances, it was a really valuable point and we deserved to get some value from that performance, especially after the disappointing performance against the same opposition at home last month – this felt a bit like a moral victory.
‘At 1-0 down, in the second half we had a go and the pleasing thing was we played Binfield at their own game a little bit and a young group stood up to them.’
The GFC manager also had words of praise for his central midfielders.
‘Tom Jackson in the last three or four games has really stepped up. He has been in good form, putting in some real distances while also having quality on the ball and he got himself an assist there.
‘A special mention, though, for Kez Mahon – he was an absolute leader. He wore the captain’s armband and he was even better than he normally is. They could not live with him, to be honest.’
The final word, though, went to the GFC goal-scorer as Vance revealed that not long after the final whistle it was put to him that Domaille could be the next Ross Allen.
The manager was very quick to downplay such a comparison, but he is excited about what the future might hold.
‘Ross’s record is just phenomenal, so let’s not put him in that category just yet.
‘I hope he is going to be a really good player for us. This is the first step on a potentially promising journey.
‘We have to build his strength up because he is a little bit slight at the moment, but that will come.
‘Ross will be a huge influence on him... but what a great strike partnership that could be – Ross and Keene.’
