Guernsey 4 Hartley Wintney 0

SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE: Guernsey had won all their home games whilst Hartley had won all their away games, so something had to give and unfortunately it was Hartley who lost their unbeaten record in dramatic style.

For the first 25 minutes Hartley were a match for the home side and were probably the better side at that stage with keeping the ball, with two or three shots at goal and a couple of low crosses into the six yard area which could have been converted, and at that stage both sets of supporters might have thought that a 0-0 draw could be on the cards, and then disaster struck. Lee Allen gave a needless penalty away which was then duly dispatched, and then over the next ten minutes the team switched off, dropped their heads and lost their composure and, after two ghastly defensive errors, were three goals down. Guernsey were in total control, playing good football and the game was over, although if Hamilton had struck the target in the last minute of the half, at 3-1 it might have put a different gloss on it.

The second half was really a damage limitation exercise for Hartley, and for all their effort Guernsey were in total control and while they only managed to score one further goal they could have had others, whilst Hartley I am afraid did not look like scoring and one could sense their frustration by the number of poor passes they made straight to the opposition.

Guernsey had two superb players on view who should be playing to a much higher standard and they were their No 8 Black and No 6 Mackay. Whether Hartley would have been in with a better shout if all their experienced key midfield players had been available it is hard to say because life is easy in hindsight to predict, but obviously it does leave a huge gap with the best will in the world for those who had to fill it, because being only a village team we do not have their resources. I know the defence say they were to blame for the goals, but the rest of the team have to get back and help them out as quickly as possible, because it is a team game.

I have to say, with their financial resources they have at their disposal Guernsey can only get better and better as the season progresses with players ready to fill in any position that is vacant, and it is hard to see anybody beating them in the league from now on. But on the day Hartley were definitely second best.

After the game the manager, Neville Roach, expressed his disappointment with the result and said he thought for the first 25 minutes we were the better side, caused them problems, kept the ball, but then after the penalty their heads dropped, lost composure and their confidence suffered. But he said although this was their first defeat he thought the players were still upbeat and positive for the clash next week against Bedfont and cannot wait to show it.

But this is not the end of the world, finishing second in the league will still be a bonus and huge achievement and lets hope all the supporters get behind the team and cheer them on next week because there is still a lot to play for. [Nick Vint]

Team Allen, Stamp, Newcombe, Paterson, Bloxham (C), Coventry, Hogston (Pearson), Lee (Fox), Hamilton (Hogsden), Dillon, Brownlie.

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