A dismal first half puts Guernsey FC in more trouble

Guernsey FC’s bid to stay in the Isthmian South Central league just got trickier.

A first half display to forget against Rayners Lane eventually led to a 5-1 hammering which leaves the Green Lions firmly stuck in the relegation picture.

While they have three games in hand on Metropolitan Police and South Park (Reigate), three and four points above them respectively in safety, two of those are away to the top two sides in the league.

Sunday at Footes Lane was a big opportunity for Guernsey to not only get points on the board, but also drag Rayners Lane, winless in five matches, closer to them.

The visitors went in 4-1 up after 45 minutes with the game practically over.

Guernsey gave up possession in dangerous areas too readily and on 19 minutes Rayners Park capitalised when Remy Bennison squared the ball across the six yard box and Frank Keita claimed the final touch

The lead was doubled 15 minutes later when Deshane Dalling tapped, a move that again came from the home side giving up possession.

The third came when GFC failed to deal with the ball in their six-yard box and Keita headed home for his brace.

Dalling scored the fourth from virtually on the goal line after a Bennison cross and the visitors spurned the chance for another when Buchanen struck the ball over an empty goal.

A Ross Allen penalty, won when he was taken down from behind while moving away from the goal, got GFC on the scoresheet.

The Green Lions’ performance was better in the second half, but just before the hour Rayners Lane had their fifth. Buchanen tapped in a cross from a yard out.

Their afternoon got worse when the result filtered in from Ashford Town where South Park (Reigate) left with all three points courtesy of a 2-0 win.