The Green Lions began life in the Southern Combination Premier Division with a 4-1 win over Wick at Victoria Park on Saturday 9 August since when they have played four times in England, increasing their points tally in the league to nine with wins at Seaford Town and AFC Varndeanians, and also progressing in the FA Vase.
However, their last outing resulted in a first defeat of the season when they went down 4-2 against Little Common having played more than 80 minutes with 10 men due to the sending off of Dave Merris, and they have had to wait until today’s match with Midhurst & Easebourne to try and get back on track following the postponement of last weekend’s trip to Steyning Town due to a lack of flight availability.
That might turn out to be a blessing in disguise, though, as the Green Lions welcome back Ross Allen, Jacob Fallaize and possibly even Charlton Gauvain to their ranks.
It is believed Gauvain dislocated his shoulder in the FA Vase victory over Bexhill United, but it popped back in, meaning he required only rest and rehab to build up the strength once more.
‘We significantly missed those three players in the game we lost,’ said GFC manager Tony Vance.
‘Players of that magnitude are hugely influential for us – but in saying that, I still believe we could have won that game.
‘Charlton had that injury, but he is very close to returning. He might be involved this weekend.’
This afternoon GFC will be without Tom Vaudin and Simon Arnold, who are both away, while Merris serves his one-match suspension for the straight red card he got against Little Common for handling a goal-bound effort.
‘It is easy to say he shouldn’t have done it, but it is one of those things with footballers – sometimes you cannot help that natural instinct of putting your hand towards the ball. Most of us would have done the same thing in that scenario,’ said Vance.
Midhurst & Easebourne arrive at Victoria Park off the back of their first league win of the campaign last week when they beat Shoreham 3-1, although they were knocked out of the Sussex Senior Coutny Cup in midweek.
They are another new opponent for GFC this season.
‘We have just been working on our philosophy, on what we are trying to achieve this year, which is trying to develop our ethos and our play,’ said Vance of what his squad have been doing in the last fortnight.
Today’s match between GFC and Midhurst & Easebourne kicks off at 2pm at Victoria Park.
Meanwhile, GFC Women are back in action tomorrow when they travel to Farnham Town looking to extend their unbeaten start in the Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One South to three games.
GFC’s trip to Steyning has been rearranged for Tuesday 30 September.
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