Sam Cochrane’s near post header causes havoc in the AFC Wimbledon defence at a corner; below: Glyn Dyer (right) walks onto the ground with his designated mascot. (1160259 and 1160252)

Guernsey FC 5, AFC Wimbledon 6
IF GUERNSEY FC’S first 90 minutes of football is anything to go by, we could be in for one heck of a ride this season.

A friendly it may have been to begin the Green Lions’ journey, but there can be no denying they were quite superb at times, despite being on the wrong side of the odd strike in an 11-goal bonanza.

Less than a decade ago it was their opponents AFC Wimbledon in a similar position and they, too, showed considerable class to make for a thrilling spectacle.

Encouragingly for the home side, much of their play was patient, well-structured and exuded confidence, as they turned in a mightily impressive performance against their League Two opponents.

One thing for certain in the coming months is that Guernsey’s attacking instincts will trouble many a non-league defence, with two of their big names, both excellent on the night, linking up almost immediately.

Ross Allen’s flicked on header found Glyn Dyer alone but with space to run at a retreating Wimbledon defence, which did not expect him to try his luck from all of 35 yards.

But he did, his dipping and swerving effort only just kept out by Jack Turner at the expense of a corner, which the visitors just about managed to get out of harm’s way.

But Guernsey were not going to have it all their own way and Zachery Richards will still be wondering how he did not grab a brace within two minutes after creating good openings.

Jerson dos Santos fed him on the first occasion with only Chris Tardif to beat, but Richards dragged his shot wide, before giving himself the chance to make amends with a stunning turn under pressure.

But again he missed the target and handsomely put over Tardif’s crossbar, another let-off that the home side pounced on after 21 minutes.

The magnificent Ryan-Zico Black, Guernsey’s best player on the night, won a free-kick after being tugged back, but from 25 yards out the chances looked slim.

But he curled in a beauty to leave Turner no chance and ironically giving Guernsey’s historic first goal to a player with extensive UK experience himself.

Allen could not quite reach Dyer’s teasing cross to double the lead, while Black again went close with a similar free-kick, this time Turner doing well to save.

But for all of their undoubted ability going forward, Guernsey were struck with defensive jitters, no doubt missing the injured Jamie Dodd, as Wimbledon struck three times within 10 minutes after the half-hour mark to turn the game on its head.

Kieran Mahon must have thought his header had done enough to avert a teasing cross in, but the diversion took it straight into the path of Jake Rose, loitering on the edge of the box.

There was still plenty to do, though, but he thumped in a beauty of a left-footed volley into Tardif’s bottom corner, the pinpoint effort giving him no chance.

Tardif soon had to pick out of his net again, but this time the experienced stopper was at fault, only spilling a dipping Robert Appiah effort into the path of Jerson dos Santos, who made no mistake from close range.

And things soon got even worse for the home side, dos Santos surging forward from deep and feeding Brendan Kiernan on the edge of the area.

Waiting was Richards, who looked clearly in an offside position, but there can be no doubting the quality of Kiernan’s superb diagonal ball as the flag stayed down.

Richards did the rest, sliding past Tardif to deliver a hammer blow for Guernsey, just four minutes before the midway point.

Admittedly, Guernsey were a tad unlucky before that third strike, Black having an effort chalked out for offside from an Allen flick on, the decision borderline.

And if that first 45 minutes was open, it was nothing compared to the second period, as chances were regularly made by both sides in a game becoming increasingly stretched.

Allen’s low effort came close for Guernsey, forcing a smart save from Turner, before Wimbledon pounced on a defensive error to seemingly put the match beyond doubt.

Tom Strawbridge let a long ball forward bounce and then got lost in communication with substitute keeper Richard Davey, allowing dos Santos to pounce and slide into an empty net.

That would be dos Santos’ final action of the night as he partook in a triple substitution, fellow goalscorer Rose also being withdrawn.

Another switch soon after saw Turner replaced between the sticks by Ulysees Obame, the move aiding Guernsey thanks to some jittery moments from the man in all red.

He did well to keep out a decent Strawbridge header, but from the resulting corner could only weakly parry after an effort emanating from a goalmouth scramble.

That allowed Allen to just about get enough on the ball under pressure in the six-yard area to bundle it goal-bound, a posse of Wimbledon defenders desperately trying to clear.

They did, but only after the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line, giving Guernsey a lifeline in the process, which did not last too long.

Kiernan has been making waves in his short career so far for the Dons and he again proved his vast potential with a stunning free-kick, arguably even better than Black’s first-half effort.

After Angus Mackay had received a caution for a lunge some 25 yards out, Kiernan did the rest, finding the top corner and leaving Tardif helpless.

But Guernsey were not done yet, again showing their admirable fighting qualities, this time with their two centre-backs getting on the scoresheet.

Alex Le Prevost’s angled header was only parried by Obame into the path of Cochrane, who bundled home from close range in a crowded area.

And with 18 minutes still remaining, Strawbridge brought his side right back into contention, drilling in an unstoppable left-footed effort on the swivel, finding the far bottom corner via the inside of the other post.

But such was the nature of the encounter, Cherno Mendy was next on the scoresheet for the visitors, once again pouncing on a mistake.

Davey, Cochrane and Strawbridge failed to communicate, Mendy doing the honours by rolling into the gaping goal for the ultimately killer blow.

There was still time for Guernsey glory, though, as Allen showed his class by making the final mark on proceedings.

Mackay’s ball down the line was superb, but Allen still had much to do under considerable pressure, but excellently managed to shrug off his defensive company.

He finished it off by rifling in a beauty past Obame in what was the last meaningful action of the scarcely-believable opening Green Lions encounter.The launch of a new era in local football: More than a thousand at Foote’s Lane see Ryan- Zico Black give Guernsey FC stunning start in prestige inaugural match