Loaring has GFC singing in the rain

Guernsey FC wanted 2025 to bring with it a change in fortunes and their wish came true yesterday when captain Matt Loaring scored a dramatic 95th minute winner to win a thriller, 4-3, in the rain against Sutton Common Rovers.

The weather might have been thoroughly miserable at Footes Lane but the Garenne Stand faithful were sent into joyous raptures when the skipper, fittingly on a pitch that was beginning to resemble a shallow river, such was the amount of water that had fallen in a game which had been delayed by 55min. by travel disruption for the visitors, rose like a salmon to head home Dave Merris’ pinpoint cross from a perfectly-executed corner routine.

The game barely had time to restart before the hosts could start celebrating again as they claimed three big points against their relegation rivals.

It was a deserved victory that came against the odds, too, as not only did the Green Lions have to fight back from going two goals down, but they played the whole of the second half without their two ‘X-factor’ players in Ben Acey and Charlton Gauvain, who had both picked up injuries during the first half in which GFC had played into the strong wind before it died down and shifted direction.

But there was a resolve about the home side throughout that suggested that they were not going to let this opportunity slip through their fingers in the way the ball often did when throw-ins were being taken.

They had fallen behind when Daniel Pepple reacted quickest and nodded the rebound into an empty net after Darnell Bromfield’s thunderous 25-yard strike had hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced up in the six-yard box.

Pepple doubled their lead on 38min. with a fine finish into the top corner while GFC were temporarily down to 10 men with Acey having left the pitch due to the knock he had picked up.

However, GFC got a lifeline just before the interval when Gauvain was tripped in the box and Loaring confidently converted the penalty.

After the break, Sam Murray showed great reactions as he stretched to turn in the rebound after Jacques Cauvin’s rasping drive had been parried by Prince Adegoke to bring the hosts level.

The striker put GFC ahead for the first time 10 minutes later, forcing the ball home from close range in a goalmouth scramble after Loaring had struck a post.

Another twist in the tale came with nine minutes remaining when Pepple completed his hat-trick with another accurate shot from the edge of the box, but GFC were not to be denied and Loaring popped up to send those fans who braved the elements home happy.

‘We never ever have it easy or do things easy and we sometimes make things difficult for ourselves, but I thought we thoroughly deserved it,’ said GFC coach Steve Sharman.

‘It was a great win and the guys in the changing room are just overjoyed.

‘There’s a fantastic spirit in there and it’s a wonderful three points.’