LISTEN: ‘Faz’ wonder goal lifts Lions out of relegation zone
Guernsey FC’s manager travelled more in hope than expectation to Chipstead on Saturday but his players responded to pull off a 2-1 victory which took them out of the relegation zone in the South Central Division of the Isthmian League.
A wonder strike from Will Fazakerley from his own half of the field built on the penalty lead Matt Loaring had given them on the stroke of half time to earn the three points, which lift Guernsey out of the bottom two and into 16th place in a division where just nine points separates this position from the play-off spots.
‘In fairness to the players we needed a response after last week, when we were awful, and we got one,’ said Vance.
‘Going away with a few players missing, away from home against a team that’s had a couple of good results, sometimes these sort of games and your performance in them can define you, and I think we did that.
‘It ended up being the perfect away performance. Off the ball we were outstanding, we made it difficult for them and ultimately Faz’s goal deserves to win any football match.’
Listen to a full interview with Will Fazakerley on this week's Guernsey Press Football Podcast
The first goal came when Keanu Marsh was brought down in the area just before the interval and Loaring was cool to find the bottom corner from the spot.
Fazakerley’s goal, from at least six yards inside his own half and an effort which struck a post on the way in, doubled the advantage early in the second half.
Michael Dixon stole the ball from the GFC defence and finished hard and low from the edge of the box to halve the deficit and set up an awkward final half-hour for Vance’s men, but they saw it through for only their second win of the season.
Unfortunately for Vance, his team now has a two-week break before they play again, which he admitted was not ideal as he searched for some momentum in the season.
‘We haven’t been great, but it’s been stop-start for us too.’
