Southall ease to a vital victory- whilst danger remains for the Green Lions

Guernsey welcomed fourth place Southall to the Channel Islands last night, with both sides rather desperate for victory, albeit for entirely different reasons.

The Green Lions started the evening four points clear of the bottom two, and without a win in seven matches- the first six of those defeats- whilst The All seemed to have got back on an even keel after a March blip, winning their previous four matches, but so tight is the battle for a play off place that they started the day level on points with both of the sides directly behind them, Westfield and Raynes Park Vale, and on that basis a win was a must.

Guernsey’s form at Footes Lane of late had been a particular concern, their last five home matches seeing them take one point and concede twenty two goals, and they were behind again in first half injury time, Brendan Matthew popping up to give the visitors a vital goal. Nine minutes into the second half the lead was doubled, Romey Eccles-Meodad with his first of the season giving his side a cushion, and seventeen minutes from time Matthew’s eleventh Southall goal- he also got twenty one for Ascot United- made the points safe.

Southall are fourth- but importantly now have a three point lead over fifth place Westfield and sixth place Raynes Park Vale, and a significantly better goal difference than the latter, the two sides now having played the same number of matches. Guernsey slip a place to eighteenth on goal difference.

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