GFC coaches get the reaction they wanted
THE Green Lions restored some pride last night – but their costly habit of conceding late goals returned too.
Just when it looked as if Charlton Gauvain’s sublime goal was going to earn Guernsey FC all three points against Horndean in their final midweek game under the lights at Footes Lane before the move to Victoria Park, the home side were pegged back by a 90th minute equaliser from visiting skipper Ethan Robb.
They even flirted with an agonising defeat when the Deans hit the post deep into injury time through Zackary Willett, but that would have been cruel on GFC, who deserved at least a point from a performance that was much improved from Sunday’s shocker.
‘I think there was a real reaction there from everybody,’ said coach Steve Sharman after the 2-2 draw.
‘There was a lot of desire to play for the shirt.
‘We tried to keep it really, really simple for them and not complicate it, but said the first thing you got to do is turn up for yourselves, the fans, the people who come and pay to watch you.
‘But you’ve got to have pride in yourself and in your performance. Where it wasn’t there on Sunday, I think everybody who was here tonight could see that those players were really playing for the shirt and playing for each other.’
Against a very capable Horndean outfit, GFC were the better side in the first quarter of the game and they got their reward in the 19th minute when Gauvain and Ross Allen executed a move straight off the training ground to perfection with the former sliding the ball from a free-kick past the wall for Allen to run onto and the club’s record-scorer did not break stride as he slotted past goalkeeper Hugh Scott.
An unfortunate injury to Horndean’s Ryan Keates, who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder, halted play for six minutes as well as GFC’s momentum and within a couple of minutes of the restart his replacement Daniel Sibley had levelled for the visitors via a big deflection that gave Josh Addison no chance.
The home side regained the lead on 71min. via probably the most exquisite route one goal ever seen at Footes Lane with Gauvain gambling that Addison’s long kick forward would ride the wind over the defence and it paid off as he took the ball down with a majestic touch before showing great composure to finish past Scott.
Led by the immense Jamie Dodd, GFC seemed to be managing the game out well until Robb volleyed through a crowded box into the bottom corner to deny the hosts victory.
