MATCH REPORT : Guernsey 3 – 1 Thatcham Town

However the hosts scored a couple of late goals as the Kingfishers slipped to a first ever defeat in Channel Islands.

It was a 5am start for the Thatcham contingent, however Yash Romeo’s side travelled without Harry Hoath and David Nyarko, and set up in a new 3/5/2 formation.

In a quiet start Jordi Ebanda was off-target with a volley from the edge of the box, while Town keeper Callum Smart made a close range save to deny Owen Wallbridge.

However on 25 minutes the Green Dragons took the lead as Ross Allen worked himself some space down the right and centred for Matt Loaring to head home from in front of goal.

A few Thatcham efforts were off target, then Mo Ceesay’s low shot forced Josh Addison in to a save, before Thatcham were reduced to ten men just before the break. Callum Willmoth, who had earlier been booked for dissent, received a second yellow for brushing into Wallbridge as Guernsey counter-attacked.

Despite being a man down in the second half, Thatcham were still in the game, as Levi Heholt’s drive was saved, Sam Tanner’s close-range shot smothered, and Ceesay wasn’t far away with a drive over the top. At the other end Smart saved from Charlton Gauvain’s drive, then Town’s crossbar was rattled by Allen’s wind-assisted free-kick.

On 79 minutes it became ten versus ten as home full-back David Merris was shown his second yellow for a trip on Tanner, and within a minute Thatcham were level.

Substitute Owen Clark intercepted a loose pass at the back, Tanner rolled the ball back in to his path and the youngster fired low into the back of the net.

However Thatcham’s hard-work in getting level was soon undone, as on 86 minutes a right-wing centre was flicked on for Allen to head home from close range.

Then almost straight from the restart, Gauvain surged straight through the Thatcham back-line and fired a low shot past Smart.

Team : Smart, Mirtahmasebi, Daniel-Spray, Willmoth, Heholt, Angell, Tanner, Jones (c), Ebanda, Blackwood, Ceesay.

Subs on : Clark, Gwavava, Smith. Subs unused : Squires, Andrews

Attendance : 692