The Green Lionesses took the lead twice on Sunday at Victoria Park, but despite a flurry of late chances they could not find a way to score the equaliser they were looking for that would send the historic match to penalties.
Calleigh Hedley marked her return to competitive football after nearly a year out in style, putting GFC in the lead in the first two minutes.
After some good build up play from Aimee Ogier and Codie Le Flem, Hedley chased the ball down the wing to the edge of the six-yard box before coolly slotting the ball past the left of Chessington goalkeeper Zoe McNulty.
Alana Hockey managed to keep the visitors at bay early on, collecting Holly Hawkes’ low shot, while Sophia Demitriou hit the crossbar.
Guernsey went close to doubling their lead in the 20th minute as McNulty stopped a long-range shot from Le Flem but nearly dropped the ball. The attacker had been set up nicely by Hedley.
Nadine Roberts forced Hockey into good save from distance, minutes before Demitriou equalised from inside the area past the right hand of the young Guernsey goalkeeper.
The Green Lionesses responded well as Amy Dallamore's cross found Hedley who worked herself some space to fire into the bottom corner.
Minutes after Hedley completed her brace, Demitriou completed hers. Hockey saved her first shot, but within seconds she worked herself another chance to fire into the top corner from outside the area.
On the run in to half-time, Chessington were really putting the pressure on GFC with Olivia Watson striking a shot towards the near post from close range, but Hockey was there to block, and the rebound hit the post.
But then in added time at the end of the first-half the visitors were rewarded for their pressure as Emily Waterfall-Oldham’s strike found the top corner.
The Green Lionesses started the second-half strongly with Scarlett Gallagher sending an effort narrowly over the crossbar, before Hedley squared the ball to Le Flem whose finish was just wide.
Le Flem returned the favour in the 70th minute setting up Hedley, but she dragged her shot wide too.
Donna Gallienne found the side netting after making a good run down the right in the 74th minute.
In the 90th minute captain Candice Bougourd tried her luck from distance, but was collected by McNulty, with Le Flem also producing a good effort from outside the area minutes later, forcing the Chessington goalkeeper into a good save.
The Green Lionesses fought right to the end with substitute Adrienne Leech having a good chance and Le Flem forcing another good save out of McNulty in the eighth and final minute of added time, but the late push came to nothing.
GFC’s league campaign starts on Sunday 13 September when they host Bognor Regis Town at Victoria Park.
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