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F.A.VASE 3rd Round 8th/9th December 2012

Smudge

By Smudge
in Combined Counties Forum

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JohnM-Redrock Newbie

JohnM-Redrock

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R and A too good for E & B

Guernsey FC 4 Erith & Belvedere 0

A Ross Allen hat trick alongside a single strike from the very impressive Dave Rihoy helped Guernsey to a 4-0 victory over a battling Erith & Belvedere side with the Green Lions progressing to the Fourth Round of the FA Vase.

Rihoy has played well throughout the season but this was easily his best game as he terrorised the Erith back four and in particular full back Allan Matthews whilst Allen was quite simply, Ross Allen –goal scorer.

The pre-match hype had quite correctly highlighted the goal scoring prowess of the Erith number nine, Andy Constable -but on this occasion the burly front runner was put well and truly in the shade by the prolific Allen.

The game had been preceded by a minutes silence in memory of Richard Nieuwenhuizen, the Dutch linesman who died following a severe beating in the aftermath of a Dutch youth game last weekend. Football is all about Respect and as ever the Footes lane faithful paid their respect and quietly stood for 60 seconds.

As for the game itself, GFC yet again got off to a nervy start and as has been the recent pattern were immediately under the cosh and almost conceded after only 30 seconds. On this occasion the opposition failed to find the back of the net and very quickly the Lions were in full flow and in truth their play was a delight to see. The pace that Dave Rihoy and Glyn Dyer provided down the flanks, regularly supported by overlapping full backs in the shape of Jacques Isabelle and Ollie McKenzie kept the Erith rear guard on the back foot throughout the first half as Guernsey arguably produced their best football seen at Footes Lane this season.

The pitch was bumpy and cutting up in a number of places following a rugby patch less than twenty-four hours earlier but this did not handicap a rampant Lions attacking force and it only took 9 minutes for GFC to take the lead. Rihoy managed to keep the ball in play on the Garenne touchline and his subsequent run and cross was met by Allen inside the six yard box who neatly chested the ball past Scott Chalmer-Stevens in true predator style.

Time and time again Rihoy was beating a high Erith back line and it was clear from the off that Matthews would experience a torrid time. The attacking prompting was not the exclusive province of Rihoy for on the quarter hour Allen won the ball on the corner of the penalty area and jinking in and out produced a shot that flew just a couple of feet wide of the far post.

Allen’s hunger and tenacity for the ball was seen again in the 21st minute as he cleverly kept the ball away from his marker to supply a threatening cross into the six yard box only for the ball to be cleared by an Erith defender. Seconds later it was the turn of Rihoy to threaten the opposition goal but the Lions winger, having created and worked some space blasted the ball wide.

Guernsey by this time were constantly provided some attractive, flowing football that had the home fans on the edge of their seats and soon most of those in the official attendance of 1,005 were off their seats as Allen, receiving the ball from Isabelle in the penalty box and with his back to goal, found some space to turn and fire home to put the Lions 2-0 up.

Almost immediately from the re-start Erith’s Constable found space and met a high, swinging cross but he failed to get a decent, solid connection to the ball with his head. This appeared to be the main thrust of the visitors attacking tactic, perhaps perceiving an absence of height in the middle of the Guernsey back four that they could exploit. Skipper Sam Cochrane is not the tallest centre half in the game but he does have one prodigious leap and he was outstanding throughout the game.

Throughout the 90 minutes the GFC players were quick to close down their opposite numbers, were strong in the tackle and constantly threatening to punish a surprisingly lacklustre Erith & Belvedere team who never really got their game going until a period late in the second half.

But it was to be again Constable that on 35 minutes was to create the games next noteworthy action. The ball fell to the normally prolific striker but his long range effort was constantly rising and easily cleared the bar and the way he dispatched the chance reflected not only the dearth of clear cut chances his midfield was creating but also his increasing frustration. That said he did look a constant threat, had some neat touches for a big man and is clearly comfortable on the ball. Today in truth was not to be his day.

A couple of minutes before half time the deserving Rihoy hit the decisive third goal as the ball broke kindly to the Lions player, who subsequently broke free of a chasing defender, rounded the keeper with ease to slot the ball home and deservedly head into the break with a three goal advantage.

No doubt E&B boss, Micky Collins used the 15 minute interval to rally his troops, introducing Adam Birchall for Lewis Wood and his team did start the second period brightly with Kieron McCann taking on Isabelle and testing Tardif but the home keeper gathered the half blocked shot with ease.

Two minutes later the action switched to the other end as Allen neatly controlled the ball with a deft flick that left the Guernsey striker clear on goal, only to blaze the ball well over the bar.

However in the very next attacking move Allen did complete his hat-trick. Maybe a tad fortuitously the ball, following an impressive passing move between Rihoy and Isabelle, broke kindly to the goal poacher supreme who with the ease that has become his hallmark deftly put the ball away to put the Lions four up.

GFC coach Tony Vance subsequently rang the changes and Loaring, Alvarez and Hutton all had some game time with Dyer, Rihoy and McKenzie each in turn being warmly applauded for their efforts by the home faithful.

Given their four goal advantage it was no surprise that Guernsey to a degree, took their foot off the pedal and this did allow Erith & Belvedere to see more of the ball and provide a threat to Chris Tardif’s goal. Second half replacement Richmond Kissi certainly looked hungry, with a decent touch and he injected some pace to the visitors attack but the Lions back four stood strong. Though Tardif was tested a number of times, notably on 76 minutes when he pulled out a sharp save from a Constable close range effort and the ball had to be scrambled off the line on two separate occasions by a GFC defender the team from the Kent League failed to find the back of the net.

There can be little doubt that the Guernsey coaching staff will be as pleased with the clean sheet as with the four goals scored at the other end. This was an excellent all-round performance by the 14 home players that producing flowing attacking moves and a solidity in defence that saw GFC deservedly into the fourth round of this prodigious cup competition.

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HKP Newbie

HKP

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He mainly came to see his kids and also have his Sunday roast at his Mum's!

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  • 2 weeks later...
Big J R Newbie

Big J R

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Just seen this is about an hour and half drive tonight from South Park. They could get to Guernsey quicker! ;)

 

Probably not a wise thing to say at the moment, Bom !!

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Max Power Newbie

Max Power

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Just seen this is about an hour and half drive tonight from South Park. They could get to Guernsey quicker! ;)

Just seen this is about an hour and half drive tonight from South Park. They could get to Guernsey quicker! ;)

 

Come on down bom, it should be an interesting match ...

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Max Power Newbie

Max Power

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I am mate. I assume it's on, nothing on their site or twitter that I've seen.

 

Yeah it's on we're on the coach going down there now ... See you later

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