It will be third hosting second in Southern Combination Premier Division at Victoria Park as Steyning Town visit the island for the first time, and the ‘Barrowmen’ arrive level on points with leaders Haywards Heath Town having lost just once this campaign – and that was to the Green Lions back in September.
But GFC are on a roll themselves with nine wins from their last 10 outings, including last week’s 5-1 win at fellow play-off contenders Newhaven Town.
‘That was brilliant, a massive three points for us. Now we have to back it up with at least not losing this weekend, but three points would see us close the gap to Steyning,’ said GFC talisman Ross Allen.
‘I think everyone is really excited because these are the games everyone wants to play in.
‘Top-of-the-table clashes when it is first against second or second against third, as this one is, often don’t happen because of scheduling, so it is nice when these games come around and it will be one of the biggest games we have had at Victoria Park so far.’
Allen added that while visiting sides can often be missing a few players, he anticipates that high-flying Steyning, who have two of the top goal-scorers in the division in Stanley Bridgman and Dion Jarvis, will be at full strength.
Having started on the bench in the 2-1 win at Steyning earlier this season, he also revealed the Barrowmen were the first side he saw following GFC’s relegation from the Isthmian League last season who he felt were of Step Four quality in this division.
‘They do not just want to come here for a weekend away, they will want three points, and with it being two teams in the top three of the league, and us having gone there and getting the result we did, it all sets up nicely for a really good game.’
Allen starred in last week’s victory at Newhaven, hitting a hat-trick of three outstanding goals, and he felt that performance set a marker for the Green Lions to aspire to, even though he admitted to having concerns on the day.
‘At no point did I feel totally comfortably because they had the wind in the second half and it was strong, so even at 2-0 and 3-0 in the first half, I felt we needed five.
‘That goal they got early in the second half didn’t help my nerves, but us getting the fourth not long after was the clincher.’
As for his personal contribution, he reported that he felt like ‘a man possessed’.
‘Credit really goes to the [management] decision for me to have a week off and resting the legs the week before. I had felt a bit leggy recently, which is only natural at my age, but having freshen up, some of my movements were really sharp and it was like me back in my mid-20s,’ Allen said.
‘I was getting the ball out of my feet and getting a shot off that much quicker. I do get a lot of shots blocked nowadays because those split seconds count.
‘I know I cannot do that every week, but it is really nice to get that perspective that I can still do it and it will go down as one of my best games.
‘I do not remember scoring three goals of that quality and accuracy all in the same game, but it was everything else too – there were headed clearances and everything.
‘I was almost hoarse at the end because of the constant shouting I was doing. That is not naturally a part of my game, but I just could not shut up last week – I think my teammates were getting fed up with me. Even when the game was won I was still encouraging people and making sure we made the right decisions.’
The Green Lions faithful would like more of the same this afternoon.
GFC v Steyning Town kicks off at 2pm.
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