Guernsey FC were thumped 5-1 in midweek by Lingfield at AFC Wytheleafe’s Church Road ground and manager Tony Vance was not about to go searching for excuses as he admitted that any fans who missed the game, either in person or via the live-stream, were ‘very lucky they did not see it’.
‘It was bad, very bad – it was nightmare on Church Road,’ Vance said.
‘Lingfield were a very good team, they were physical, explosive and had some really good technical players.
‘Without wanting to be disrespectful to Lingfield, they and Midhurst [who GFC drew with last weekend] were mid-table at best last year, but both have invested significantly in terms of their playing resources and the fear is that the league strength has gone up.
‘I don’t think we have been in a great place in terms of, one, player availability and, two, finding our feet so far this season – and the second part is down to me.
‘Yes we have got some injuries at the moment, but on Wednesday night we still had a great squad and yet as far as Lingfield were good, we were really sub-standard. Physically we were beaten up, technically we were poor and it was a bad night – it was 5-1 and it should have been more, to be honest.
‘So from not having a great night, what you don’t really need is the best team in town coming to Victoria Park three days later, but it could go one of two ways and hopefully we react in a positive way.’
As well as the defeat, GFC suffered a big blow in losing Fin Du Port to an ankle injury on Wednesday and he is set to be sidelined for ‘a few weeks at least’, according to the manager, as he joins Sam Murray, Josh Addison and Cal Le Lacheur in the treatment room.
Jamie Dodd and Jacques Cauvin are also unavailable today, but GFC should welcome back George Goubert and Niall Hainsworth, while there is a chance Jacob Fallaize might feature.
‘We are not at full tilt in terms of resources and when you are playing the league leaders, you particularly want your big hitters but we are missing a few,’ said Vance.
‘Eastbourne have invested in players and are being rewarded for it with a very strong start. They are top of the table and everyone is tipping them to be there or thereabouts this season.’
GFC against Eastbourne United kicks off at 1.30pm today at Victoria Park.
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