Two of the younger members of the Guernsey FC line-up, Luke Winch, left, and Joe Alvarez, combine. (Picture by Matt Nichols, 1180402)

Spelthorne Sports 0, Guernsey FC 1
YET another vital strike from Ross Allen was enough to send Guernsey FC through to the next round of the Division One Challenge Cup at the expense of Spelthorne Sports.

Allen twisted and turned in the penalty area and shot low to fire the Green Lions into a first half lead after good work by Jacques Isabelle.

It was a relatively even game possession-wise, with both sides creating chances, but neither goalkeeper had many saves to make.

It was a hard-fought win for GFC, with the defence having to withstand late heavy pressure from their opponents, and they stood up to the task admirably.

Tony Vance’s starting line-up was a mixture of youth and experience. Luke Winch made his debut in a forward trio that included his brother, Jason, and match-winner Allen.

Teenagers Tom de la Mare and Joe Alvarez also started for the first time, the latter making his debut, and did their chances of future selection no harm whatsoever.

Guernsey started brightly, stroking the ball around nicely in the opening exchanges, but it was Spelthorne who created the first efforts on goal in the opening 10 minutes – although neither Lee Staples’ header over the top nor Rob Smith’s effort straight at Paul de Garis were particularly threatening.

Carl Debeger was booked for a foul on the hard-working Jason Winch, who was on the receiving end of a couple of rough challenges during the game, inside the first quarter of an hour, shortly before the older Winch’s inswinging corner was headed over by stand-in skipper Dominic Heaume.

Liam Hill and Jason Winch then traded efforts before the GFC broke the deadlock after 25 minutes.

Jacques Isabelle stole the ball from his marker down the right-hand side and made progress almost to the byline before squaring for Allen.

The striker was surrounded by defenders but somehow managed to wriggle into space and lash the ball across Mark Pisani into the far corner for 1-0.

The next 10 minutes was fairly even, with two efforts from Staples – the second clipping the side netting – and an Allen free-kick that was deflected into the arms of Pisani.

Allen then headed over before Staples again fashioned two chances, the second of which was a sitter that should have put his side level just before the interval.

He somehow spooned the ball over the crossbar when standing right in front of goal after the ball had been squared to him from the left.

Ryan-Zico Black, who once again ran the game from his central midfield position, curled a free-kick wide and Jake Flatman’s low, off-target, shot ended an engaging first period.

The Green Lions started the second 45 in the ascendency, with three chances in the opening six minutes.

Either side of a sliced effort by Debger, Allen forced a save from Pisani after being found by Heaume, and the latter headed narrowly wide from close range after some excellent work by Luke Winch down the right, managing to beat his man and loop in a cross.

Allen then won the ball from his marker and drove in a low cross that Heaume was not far away from.

Flatman then displayed neat feet at the other end but fired over before flashing a shot wide soon after.

The game was become end-to-end as Luke Winch lofted a lovely through ball for Heaume, who was foiled by Pisani when one-on-one, and Allen hit a low left-footed shot wide.

Guernsey looked assured but the danger was always there from Spelthorne, who soon began a late onslaught that made for a nervous ending for the impressive number of travelling supporters.

The hosts had the ball in the net with a quarter of an hour remaining after a long punt into the Guernsey box, but de Garis was adjudged to have been impeded by two attackers in his attempt to get to the ball – so the goal did not stand.

Flatman cut inside from the left soon after and fizzed the ball across goal, the effort narrowly evading the far post.

Junior Wright headed over in the final moments from a left wing by Jamie Richards, but the Green Lions otherwise defended resolutely to earn their eighth competitive victory and book a place in the next round of the cup.