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Guernsey Preview

sam surbey17 Oct 2019 - 07:38
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Steve Barton Writes...

Please note that this is a 2.00pm kick-off.

Guernsey played their first ever Isthmian League match in August 2013, at Winch’s Field, and flew back to the bailiwick with all three points following a 1-0 victory in front of 410 on Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day as part of the FA 150 year’s celebrations. The five meetings between the two clubs in Kent since then has seen the Green Lions still unbeaten with four draws and one win. Out in the Channel Islands Bay have won two, drawn one and lost three.

Guernsey Football Club was formed in 2011 to offer the island's elite footballers the opportunity to progress and test themselves on a regular basis outside of the Channel Islands. Saturday 6th August 2011 was a historic day for Guernsey when the club played its inaugural game in the Combined Counties League Division One. The historic day turned into an historic season with the club winning the league title, having lost only 2 of its 34 league matches. Promotion from the Premier Division was achieved at the first attempt, when after playing 16 games in 30 days, the Green Lions finished 2nd. In 2013/14 they finished 4th in the Isthmian League Division One South, winning exactly half of their 46 games, drawing 12 and losing 11. The finish earned them a play-off semi-final away at Leatherhead which they lost 3-1. The three seasons since then has seen them slip down the table and in 2016/17 ended up one place outside of the drop zone. They were also one place away from relegation in 2018/19.

Work on upgrading the athletics track at Footes Lane meant that Guernsey had to play all their matches away in August and September. In those seven games they won three, drew three and lost one leaving them in 6th place. They returned home to meet VCD Athletic two weeks ago and added three more points to the board following a 3-1 victory which lifted them up to fourth in the table, eight points ahead of Herne Bay but Bay have a game in hand. Their solitary defeat was away at Whyteleafe. Last Saturday they returned to FA Trophy action after an absence of two seasons with a trip to Isthmian South Central Barking but came away defeated 2-1.

The return fixture in the Channel Islands is on Saturday 18th January 2020.

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