Guernsey FC v Croydon - Saturday 20 September, 2pm (Victoria Park)
The two clubs played each other during GFC’s sole campaign in the Combined Counties League Premier Division in 2012-13, with the Green Lions winning 8-0 at Footes Lane and 7-4 in the return fixture. Allen scored nine goals across both games – four at home and five on the road.
In the build-up to today’s FA Vase tie at Victoria Park, GFC’s talisman featured in a social media post by the club to publicise the match, which prompted a jovial response from the opposition.
‘Ross Allen’s still playing? He played against us in 2013, scoring five in a 7-4 win. Gutted for Claudio de Almeida who scored only four! You’ll be pleased to know de Almeida isn’t playing,’ said the @Croydon_FC reply.
GFC manager Tony Vance continued the light-hearted banter when he was reminded of their previous meetings with Croydon.
‘I would be very happy with a repeat of that,’ he said with a chuckle.
‘I don’t mind who scores the goals as long as we get the right result – but you wouldn’t bet against Ross scoring.’
On paper, the Green Lions go into the game as favourites as they play a level above Step 6 outfit Croydon, who are currently eighth in the Southern Counties East First Division.
However, the Trams are unbeaten in their last three outings and Vance emphasised that his team can take nothing for granted.
‘You would imagine eight out of 10 times we would win this game because of the levels the two sides are at, but whenever you are playing a cup game, the levels do not make much difference,’ he said.
‘It will be their big day. We have to be very wary of that and we will be – and with the fact that it goes straight to penalties if it’s a draw, we simply have to win in 90 minutes and that will be what we are trying to do.’
With the exception of long-term absentees Jacques Cauvin and Matt Loaring, who also scored against Croydon the last time they visited the island, Vance reported that he has ‘pretty much everyone available’.
‘It’s possible that we’re going to have to make some tough decisions on selection, which is both good and bad,’ he said.
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