Allen returns to help GFC climb off bottom
Guernsey FC are off the bottom of Isthmian South Central and it was no surprise who scored the goal to get them climbing the table.
Ross Allen needed just 31 minutes to net his first home goal of the season as he returned to the side for the first time since 16 October and his strike was enough for the Green Lions to earn a hard-fought victory over fifth-placed South Park last night at a damp Footes Lane.
The club’s record-scorer had already gone close on a couple of occasions when he was on hand to turn in the ball from close range after Jamie Dodd’s long throw had been flicked on in the box.
The hosts deserved their half-time lead, but then had to withstand plenty of pressure from South Park in the second half.
GFC stood firm, though, with a terrific rearguard action.
‘I loved the defending at the end, to be honest, and I think the players did themselves,’ said manager Tony Vance.
Watch: Guernsey FC's win came on the day Julia Hands was named as the club's new chairwoman
‘It’s fair to say we’ve been due some luck and we were getting every rub of the green there in terms of the deflections falling for us, but I think we deserved that bit of luck.’
He added that the return of Allen and Kieran Mahon, who has served a three-match suspension following his red card against Hanworth Villa last month, made a big difference and helps give the squad options going forward.
‘We’ve missed Kez, for sure, and obviously we’ve missed Ross in that period when he wasn’t around. He scored the goal tonight and it’s good to have him back. He’s trained well over the last five sessions, so he deserved to be there.
‘He’s always good for a goal isn’t he?
‘We played him in a deeper position so that he could add to our creation. We haven’t scored many goals, but we’re not creating that many as well and Ross can do that.’
The win lifted GFC three place in the table, up to 17th, on a night when fellow strugglers Tooting & Mitcham United and Bedfont Sports both lost.
‘I’ve been told we’ve moved up a few places. It’s good, obviously we’ve been down there a while, but let’s not kid anyone here, we’re not out of the woods at all,’ said Vance.
‘We’ve got Marlow on Saturday, who are in the top five, but let’s look at the positive side of things and hopefully we can start now getting back to how we should be.’
