Guernsey FC 2
Feltham 0

ANOTHER home win and three more points in the bag, but how Guernsey FC were grateful for the interventions of two of their star men at Footes Lane.

In the cold light of day, another game has been ticked off in the bid for promotion, but had it not been for Angus Mackay and Ross Allen, things could have been very different.

This was not the Green Lions’ finest hour, but thanks to Allen’s pair of expert finishes and a colossal performance from Mackay, an ever-imposing winning home sequence was extended.

Indeed, it was Mackay who  produced arguably the game’s turning point, a quite brilliant acrobatic clearance off the line in the 22nd minute, with the scoreline still deadlocked.

With Chris Tardif beaten, a back post header looked certain to find the bottom corner, only for Mackay to somehow hook away after a desperate lunge to keep his side on terms.

GFC could have easily been ahead by that point, as Allen squandered a great chance as early as the fifth minute, after rounding outcoming keeper Tristan Thomas from a teasing through ball.

But he had taken it just too far and, as a result, could only fire into the side-netting of an open net from a tight angle, not quite adding to his astounding season’s goal tally.

However, that was as close as GFC were to get in the first quarter, with the ball already being given away all over the pitch on a number of occasions, inviting unnecessary pressure as a result.

Fortunately, that Mackay clearance aside, Feltham were unable to punish them, with the home side still looking dangerous on occasions.

Luke Winch could not quite pick out Craig Young in the middle after he had gone around the keeper on the far side, the chance being created by Allen’s excellent cross-field ball.

And with frustration beginning to kick in, the mood of the record crowd was finally lifted on 34min., when Allen produced a moment of pure class to net his 30th goal of the campaign.

Mackay burst from deep and side-footed into the path of Winch, who, in turn, kept the momentum going, before unselfishly sliding sideways moments before being tackled.

It looked as though Young would get a left-footed shot off some 20 yards out, but instead Allen took control and went for goal himself after cutting across his marker.

He then curled a beauty into the corner past the helpless Thomas to give the Lions the lead and hopefully settle any nerves as a result.

Winch fired wide from range soon after, while Young could only head over Thomas’ bar despite being unmarked, as the home side ended the first half in the ascendancy.

But the jitters were still in evidence after the break and goalkeeper Chris Tardif had to be alert to tackle Ricardo Fraser, after being put under pressure by a poor back-pass by Tom Strawbridge.

Tardif also smartly kept out Luke Craig’s curling free-kick, as Feltham looked more and more likely to grab an equaliser under the lights of Footes Lane, a first in itself this season competitively.

Dom Heaume and Allen both fired narrowly over as the Lions hunted that crucial second goal, while Jamie Dodd’s fizzing low cross had no one on hand to turn it in.

Julius Mngadi kept Tardif on his toes with a long-range angled strike flying not too far wide and with GFC coach Tony Vance seemingly sensing danger, he replaced both full-backs together with a quarter of the game remaining.

Dodd and Jacques Isabelle made way for Ollie McKenzie and Chris Mauger, as Vance’s embarrassment of riches were on full show, Jason Winch also getting a late run out.

Before long, that decisive second goal did come and it was that man Allen who once again provided it, finally killing off Feltham’s brave resistance.

Mackay was the key again as he slid in a defence-splitting through ball into Allen’s feet and after the striker turned onto his left foot, he fired into the far corner off the underside of Thomas’ crossbar for number 31 in just 19 games.

Although that ultimately extinguished Feltham’s hopes, they refused to give up, with Fraser forcing a fine save from Tardif’s outstretched leg, after he had pounced on another loose ball in the centre of the park.

A goalmouth scramble also nearly brought a lifeline until an offside flag was raised, although GFC could have put it totally beyond doubt with an attacking flurry in injury-time.

Mackay could not quite get a deserved goal after failing to turn in at the far post in a congested penalty area, while captain Sam Cochrane had an effort deflected over from the resulting corner.

Referee Andy Mawby’s final whistle sounded soon after, signalling that GFC had maintained their 11-point cushion at the top of the league, boosted further by news that unbeaten Hartley Wintney had surprisingly slipped up.

But with the Hampshire-side and also the league’s form team third-placed Warlingham to come within the next fortnight, standards will need to be upped by the Lions.

If they are and six more points are put in the bag, a successful promotion push could be just weeks away.