Second-half goals from Charlton Gauvain and Fin Du Port gave the Green Lions a 2-0 victory over Croydon in what was ultimately an eminently forgettable second qualifying round tie at Victoria Park, but Tony Vance was just happy that his side got their just deserts in the end.
‘It was really hard to go and win that game,’ said the GFC manager.
‘Obviously we all saw the antics that we had to deal with, they were dropping like flies and it was difficult for the referee. I appreciate that because what’s realistically an injury and what’s not, you know? They tried to break everything down and so it’s really hard to build momentum.
‘I thought we played quite well under the circumstances, to be honest, it was just probably the end product, the final ball in the box, final shot choice or pass choice [that was missing].
‘But we kept going and going and pushing to try and win the game. We did that for most of the game and it was only a question of just getting a goal. That’s what I said at half time. I said, “look, you’re doing all right, but don’t think we’ve got to go and smash these out of sight, 1-0 will do, we just need to get that goal”.’
Ross Allen, who had scored nine times in the two previous meetings between the clubs a dozen years ago, did have the ball in the net in first- half injury time, but celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag, much to Vance’s chagrin.
‘We did score a good goal, let’s be honest, but the linesman gave offside and we all know it wasn’t.
‘So that again was just frustrating for the players because they carved them open, and it was a good goal.’
The deadlock was finally broken by Gauvain in the 54th minute and by the time play restarted Croydon had been reduced to 10 men with Jack White sent off, apparently for something he said, in the aftermath of the goal.
Du Port made the game safe seven minutes from time when his cross-cum-shot from the right-hand side went in off the far post.
‘Luckily, we got a goal in the end and then got a second to make it comfortable, and obviously they had the sending off, but it’s just about getting in the next round,’ said Vance.
‘Hopefully we can get lucky with the draw, because that’s what it’s all about. There are some big teams in this competition, you want to try and avoid them for as long as you can.
‘But it’s also a competition that we can do well in, so hopefully it can be kind to us.’
Read a full match report in Monday’s Guernsey Press
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