Tristan Cairns was an integral part of a superb Guernsey backline. (0734873)

Guernsey 7, Worthing 1
NO ONE would have predicted this scoreline.

The talk before Guernsey’s big HA Trophy quarter-final at Foote’s Lane yesterday was how good the south coast team were going to be.

They were on a 20-game unbeaten run to top the South Hockey League Kent/Sussex Regional Division and had three strong Australian players in their ranks.

They also looked pretty good as they went through some fancy warm-up routines.

But, come the first whistle, they were simply blown off the park by an inspired Guernsey side, pushed on by a good home crowd.

‘I woke up this morning expecting a 3-2 win or a golden goal affair,’ said Guernsey captain Andy Whalley.

‘I certainly wasn’t expecting a 7-1 victory. That was the best team performance that we’ve ever had.’

Someone who was not surprised was Guernsey’s player-coach Ben Allberry, who was in sublime form and produced a man-of-the-match performance with four goals to his name.

‘I always knew we had it in us,’ he said.

‘They’ve got some good players, but we took our chances. That was the key.’