Guernsey FC left frustrated by defeat to Leatherhead

The visitors took their chances and with it deserved their victory, although the 3-0 scoreline was not a true reflection of the overall game as there was not that big a gap between the two teams, but the Green Lions paid a heavy price for a couple of costly errors.

‘I think the three goals we gave away were “us” goals. It’s our Achilles’ heel, unfortunately, and it’s really, really frustrating because our play didn’t deserve that,’ said GFC manager Tony Vance.

‘If you take a step back, really I thought we were, pound for pound, as good as them, we just didn’t have the end product, unfortunately, and they did.

‘But it was accelerated by the mistakes that we gave them – they didn’t carve their goals out. That was probably the difference between the two teams.

‘So when you consider that they’ll be where they’ll be at the end of the season, which will be play-offs for sure – that’s what their aim is, that’s what their budget is, that’s what they are year on year – and there wasn’t much in it.’

The only chances of note in the opening quarter were both created by the home side with Sonny Wheeler called into action on a couple of occasions to make regulation saves.

Then, out of the blue of the half-hour, Leatherhead took the lead through a heavily deflected effort from Seb Karczewski after his initial shot had been blocked following a simple break up the middle of the pitch that caught out the Green Lions.

‘It was a sucker punch because I thought we started stronger actually,’ said Vance.

GFC’s failure to clear their lines at a set-piece then gifted Andre Date a goal which doubled the lead before half-time.

Despite GFC losing Kieran Mahon, Jamie Dodd and Ross Allen all to injury, the second half was an even contest until, in the 90th minute, Kwesi Ntim dinked a cross-cum-shot over Josh Addison into the far corner to complete the scoring.

‘We never really hurt them in terms of getting that those glorious opportunities, but I think our approach play was good and everything about going forward with the ball and with the pace that we’re trying to implement, I think it was good tonight and the signs are there,’ Vance said.

‘Look, that’s our fourth game of the season. I think that’s their 16th. They’ve just beaten a National League team in the FA Cup.

‘I’m disappointed to lose, disappointed with the three goals we gave away, but not disappointed with the way we went toe to toe with them, and you throw in there that we didn’t have Charlton [Gauvain] tonight, he’s the X factor player that might well have improved our end product.’