On the day that the Channel Islanders came a calling to Salters Lane, Ray Walker’s Faversham Town crashed to their second home league defeat of the season thanks to a substitute called Paris just eight minutes before the end of a pulsating contest in bright but extremely blustery conditions.

In a game that kicked off at lunchtime because of the visitors travelling arrangements, It was substitute Paris Pereira who was to prove the Islanders match winner as he ghosted into the Faversham box unchallenged to bury Ross Allen’s driven cross from six yards past the helpless Simon Overland in the home goal to maintain Guernsey’s unbeaten home record and propel them in fifth place.

It was tough on Faversham as throughout the 90 minutes they created enough to have earned at least a point from a game that grew more appealing on the eye with every passing minute.

The home side had the first chance of the game when Luke Harvey forced Guernsey keeper Christophe Tardif into a smart reflex save before the ball was cleared by the defence.  From the resulting Aaron Lacy long throw (which was to prove a weapon for Faversham all game), Tardif was relieved to see Jacques Isabelle behind him on the line as the keeper made a complete mess of the ball in in the swirling wind.  Marsden then had a run and shot that flew over the bar before the visitors missed a sitter at the midway point of the first half.  Isabelle’s storming run and cross down the right found Kieron Mahon six yards out but he snatched at the shot and it flew into the car park!

Marsden then went even closer  with another shot – this one just wouldn’t dip into the top corner as Tardif watched motionless.  The keeper was then relieved to see the ball flash wide of his right post as Jamie Maxted glanced another Lacy throw inches wide before on the stroke of half time a flying Matt Bourne saw his header (from Wayne Wilson’s pin point cross) go narrowly past the left post.

It was almost against the run of play that Guernsey took the lead eight minutes into the second half.  Ross Allen, who got better and better as the game wore on, thundered a shot in which hit the underside of the bar and as the ball seemed to be running away from goal, Marc McGrath reacted fastest to fire the ball past a wrong footed Overland and into the net.  McGrath then almost turned provider as his driven cross was just too far in front of the sliding Glyn Dyer at the back post.

In an almost identical move at the other end, the home side levelled on 63 minutes.  Harvey turned Angus Makay this way and then that before drilling the ball to the far post where Tom Hickman accepted the gift to level the scores.  The equaliser seemed to stoke the tempers of both teams and following a poor Harvey challenge left Makay in a heap on the touchline, Tardif sprinted thirty yards outside of his area to get involved in the melee and, along with the Faversham man, was rightly cautioned once referee Scott restored order.

The home side pushed on trying to get the all important third goal of the game, and were nearly caught on the break from one of their own corners.  The ball was cleared to Allen, who raced away and as keeper Overland came out, Maxted arrived just in time to clear the ball away, as the Guernsey striker clipped the ball past the Faversham keeper.

Nine minutes from time, Guernsey full back Isabelle caught Maxted with a challenge that was so late there was an argument that the clocks hadn’t yet gone back and was rightly cautioned as he hobbled off – indeed some in the crowd of nearly 300 thought that the official had been lenient in “only” showing a yellow card.  From the resulting free kick, Bourne beat keeper Tardif to the ball but the defence were able to clear away.

Sixty seconds later came the decisive third goal – but it was the visitors who claimed it and again it was the ever impressive Allen who was heavily involved.  He broke clear of Lacy down the Guernsey left and his cross was turned home by substitute Pereira to seal the points for the Channel Islanders…  points that nearly stayed in Kent as in the last minute Hickman lobbed Tardif but the ball dropped harmlessly onto the roof of the net.  The points also maintained Guernsey’s unbeaten away record and left Turner and his side to reflect on what might have been…

FAVERSHAM TOWN – Overland, Lacy, Maxted, Hickman, Bourne, Brown, Marsden, Wilson, Tenyue (Cass 54), Harvey, Botterill.

Subs not used – King, Ashmore, Mosaku, Hockton.

GUERNSEY – Tardif, Isabelle (Geall 81), Dodd, Makay, Le Prevost, Mahon, Dyer, Zico-Black, McGrath, Allen, Hutton (Pereira 68).

Sub not used – Teebert.

Referee – Mr S Scott
Assistants – Mr A Goodwin & Mr J Horne