Angus Mackay, the scorer of GFC’s first goal on Saturday, gets a shot away against Warlingham. (Pictures by Tom Tardif, 1170346)

Guernsey FC 3, Warlingham 0
ANOTHER home game, another stunning attacking display, another three points.

Guernsey FC’s debut season is going swimmingly and long may it continue as Warlingham were the second team in a week to be brutally put to the sword.

True, the UK visitors to Footes Lane did offer some attacking threat through the dangerous Danny MacDiarmid, but it was at the other end where the real danger lay on countless occasions throughout.

In so many ways, this was even more impressive than a week ago because this time Warlingham did not offer freebies as Knaphill had done. Instead, the Green Lions’ front three looked threatening through their own fine performances.

Two-goal hero Glyn Dyer was exceptional as he produced for the duration, while Craig Young was lively alongside him, behind the imperious Ross Allen, who despite not getting on the scoresheet, was even better than last week.

It was Allen and Young who nearly combined to devastating effect within three minutes, the latter benefiting from his teammate’s superb low cross, but the Bels man could only fire over the bar.

Soon it was Allen’s opportunity to try to break the deadlock after Angus Mackay’s quick-thinking throw-in but after twisting and turning, Allen fired wide with just keeper Danny Coote to beat.

Dom Heaume fired wide soon after, while Dyer was already creating mayhem with his frequent runs from deep, although it was from a dead ball where he nearly delivered a peach.

Standing over a free kick some 30 yards out, having already seen Allen and Ryan-Zico Black squander similar opportunities, the little winger found Coote’s crossbar with a stunning dipping effort.

But for all of GFC’s early dominance, that lack of a clinical edge nearly cost them when they were saved at the other end through a mixture of Chris Tardif’s brilliance and ineptness from MacDiarmid.

Danny Penfold’s ambitious long-range curling effort was parried by Tardif – but straight to the feet of MacDiarmid a couple of yards out, albeit from a tightish angle.

Rather than lift it over the floored Tardif, he hit it straight at the GFC keeper, whose quick reactions were enough to somehow turn it over at the expense of a corner.

There was another let-off as a header beat the crossbar after Tardif had missed a free kick whipped into the area and it was not long before that became pivotal as GFC opened the scoring on 29min.

A series of players were involved in a crazy goalmouth scramble, which saw Young make space well in a congested area, but a tackle denied him the chance to get a shot away.

However, the loose ball fell to Heaume, who also made space before curling across Coote and onto his crossbar.

The rebound fell to the feet of Dyer, who could only mishit his shot back into the area, but fortunately, Mackay was on hand finally to bundle it over the line and get the goal which would have set some nerves at rest.

It nearly got even better a couple of minutes later.

Sam Cochrane was at the back post to turn towards goal from an inswinging corner, but his effort was well chested off the line before falling into Coote’s grateful arms.

GFC were then let off when MacDiarmid could only fire across goal after Tony Martin had slid him in, while both Mackay and Dyer fired wide for the home side.

The attacking threat continued after the restart when Coote did well to keep out Black’s low effort, while Young could not quite turn in Allen’s low cross.

Another goalmouth scramble should have brought about the second, but Warlingham somehow cleared the danger, including Coote’s fine save from Tom Strawbridge’s low zipping effort.

But it did not matter too much, as Dyer had given GFC breathing space less than a minute after that drama.

Black’s superb through ball was perfectly weighted and allowed Dyer to break the offside trap, although his one-on-one effort was straight at the advancing Coote.

Unfortunately for Warlingham, it ricocheted back off one of their players into Dyer’s path and he had a similar opportunity to the first, albeit with no keeper to beat but two retreating defenders on the line.

His pinpoint curling effort beat both and found the back of the net, the North man making it two in as many home games for GFC.

The win was not quite a certainty just yet, however, as MacDiarmid once again used his strength to force his way through the GFC backline and knock his effort past the outcoming Tardif.

It did not quite have the required power on it, allowing Cochrane to slide in and desperately clear off the line, his quick reactions vital as he narrowly avoided a collision with the post.

Dyer should have sealed the three points after magnificent work by Allen to feed Black and in turn Dyer, but he fired over the angle of bar and post, although he did clinch it on 68 minutes.

Pouncing on a poor defensive pass, he was first to reach the ball and bore down on Coote, who had advanced to narrow the angle.

This time, Dyer needed only one attempt as he lifted it over the visiting keeper and into the net, clinching the points that ensured GFC are sitting pretty in second place.

Further chances came and went as Allen was denied twice by Coote, the second time in excellent fashion, while substitute Matt Loaring’s had an effort cleared off the line after he had rounded Coote.

The full-time whistle sounded soon after, as Guernsey FC sent out another statement of intent in the early stages of a season that is already delivering quality aplenty.

Next time they perform in front of their home fans will be against reigning champions Worcester Park on 3 September after a three-match away run, which could well just define their season.