Green Lions claim their first win since March

Fielding a squad without a host of key players, the Green Lions overcame high-flying Horndean 3-2 with their manager keen to emphasise that it was far from a backs-against-the-wall victory as might have been the case in the past, and that his side were deserving of the success.

‘If you say it was one of those when the lads stood up to be counted, it implies that they rolled their sleeves up and put up a fight in the face of difficult circumstances, but we actually played some good football and it is good to be able to talk about us in a positive manner with a positive result to look back on,’ Vance said.

‘In terms of the manner of how we did it, it is what we are trying to implement in terms of our philosophy and we know we will take some hits along the way, but we saw flashes that contributed to this result.’

Although several experienced heads such as Jamie Dodd, Tom Dodds, Dave Merris and Kieran Mahon were missing for GFC, they were boosted by the return of Charlton Gauvain and he was involved in all three of their goals.

The first came after just three minutes when Gauvain worked some space and delivered a perfect cross for Sam Murray to head home.

Home goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas saved from Matt Loaring to prevent GFC from doubling their lead and Horndean drew level just before the half-hour mark when a long ball from left to right beat the defence found Rudi Blankson, who finished powerfully into the bottom corner.

However, the Green Lions did go into half-time in front as just before the interval Ross Allen opened his account for the season with a goal straight off the training ground as he, Gauvain and Loaring perfectly executed a rehearsed corner routine which culminated in him finding the far corner.

In the second half GFC were pegged back again as some poor defending led to Billy Allcock scoring Horndean’s second equaliser of the afternoon.

However, the visitors were not to be denied and they found a winner with quarter-of-an-hour remaining as Loaring headed home on the stretch from Gauvain’s ball into the box.

‘You can say we didn’t have a full squad, but it’s also fair to say when do we?,’ said Vance.

‘Most of our games are against the odds and while I think we are able to compete, when you have not got the tools in the bag, it makes it difficult to do the job.

‘In this game, offensively we were very strong because we had all the players who are going to make a difference for us in the final third and they all did, but at the other end of the pitch we were literally throwing together a defence who I don’t think we have ever tried before, even in training.

‘We threw away the lead a couple of times and gave away a couple of soft goals, but the resilience of the team was good.

‘It was a great win given the circumstances, but I am more pleased with how we played given what we are trying to do with this group.’

Guernsey FC team: Addison, Hainsworth, Vaudin, Gauvain (Ward), Loaring, Murray, Allen, Wallbridge (Wallace ), Du Port, Arnold (Leadbeater), Cauvin.