That was the frank assessment of manager Tony Vance, as he reflected on a comprehensive 4-1 defeat at the hands of visiting Peacehaven & Telscombe in the Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final.
‘Unfortunately, we didn’t turn up on the big day but you’ve got to give huge credit to Peacehaven, they were better than us,’ said Vance.
‘As bad as we were, with our bad decision making, they were very good.’
The visitors found the net twice in each half before the hosts could respond, and Fin du Port’s strike in the 72nd minute was mere consolation.
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Chances had gone begging at either end during a scoreless first 40 minutes – notably, a Charlton Gauvain strike from 15 yards that grazed the left post – and Vance admitted to having concerns despite the even nature of the match at that stage.
‘I feared the worst as soon as Charlton missed that sitter,’ he said.
‘I thought it wasn’t going to be our day. We had some really good chances and the goalkeeper made some good saves but that aside, Peacehaven deserved everything they got.’
Vance described the play-offs as ‘cruel’, with Guernsey having finished third after a long campaign, compared to the visitors’ fifth-placed finish, but he said that made the achievement of the team in blue all the more impressive.
‘We were desperately wanting to get that home play-off, so they’ve come and won against all odds,’ he said.
‘I’m not sure we’re ready to go up, but that doesn’t take away from the disappointment that we’ve lost a final. We’ll dust ourselves down and have another go and I’m sure we’ll have our day again.’
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