GFC feel cheated by goal scored with arm

Video replays clearly showed that the home side’s opener in their 2-1 victory over the Green Lions was knocked in by the arm of forward Gareth Chendlik.

However, his effort was allowed to stand and a strike from centre-half James Gurteen just before the break were enough for the hosts to see off their visitors, who are now 18th in Isthmian South Central

‘We should not have been a goal down, the player cheated and it is so frustrating, so I feel very sorry for the lads,’ said GFC manager Tony Vance.

‘It is difficult to have something like that happen to you, especially on the road.’

GFC started Saturday’s fixture brightly, with strikers Ross Allen and Sam Murray both having attempts on goal, but in the 34th minute the home team went forward and Chendlik turned a cross home with his right arm to make it 1-0, as the referee and his assistants both missed the incident.

Northwood, who currently sit second in the Isthmian South Central, began to apply more pressure and on the stroke of half-time they had their second, with the Green Lions unable to clear their lines before Gurteen turned it home.

GFC looked to launch a comeback late on, particularly after the introduction of Keene Domaille, and it was his North teammate Murray who went close with just over 10 minutes remaining but keeper Andrew McCorkell saved well with his legs.

Vance’s team did then get one back with just a couple minutes to spare and it was substitute Domaille who finished with a poacher’s effort after Allen initially hit the crossbar.

Northwood were able to hold on for all three points despite the late charge, though, as Domaille put one over the bar with the last kick of the afternoon, meaning there would be no dramatic finish for GFC on the road.

The result means that Guernsey drop a place in the table, with relegation rivals Sutton Common Rovers having picked up a victory at home to Hanworth Villa on the same day.

‘I was quite disappointed in myself, to be honest. I should have changed the shape earlier in the game as they cut us open quite easily,’ said the GFC manager.

‘We were much more stable in the second half thanks to the changes we did make to the system, and we had them wrestled at the end.

‘I am very proud of the way that the lads conducted themselves on the day, especially since we only had a group of 12 players following Keanu [Marsh] and Liam [Mahon] both becoming unavailable on the day.

‘Tom Vaudin had a very good game again, he did really well against their standout player on the left-hand side.

‘Ross worked extremely hard, too, and Dave Merris was excellent once again.

‘It was enjoyable to see the lads work so well together, we looked like a proper team and I think we have definitely turned a corner as a side.’

Up next for GFC is Binfield at home on Saturday afternoon, with a win potentially moving the team back above Sutton Common Rovers.