Isthmian League

Division 1 South Central

Wednesday 9th February 2022

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Staines Town 2 Guernsey 8, attendance 121

24’ 0-1

28’ 0-2

29’ 1-2

30’ 1-3

33’ 2-3

38’ 2-4

51’ 2-5

68’ 2-6 (pen)

83’ 2-7

88’ 2-8 (pen)

@ Wheatsheaf Park

Wheatsheaf Lane

Staines

TW18 2PD

£10 Admission

£2 Programme, didn’t bother buying.

As with last night, with no new grounds for me, it was time for another revisit. I hadn’t been to Staines Town since 21st February 1995, when they drew 1-1 with Uxbridge in a Middlesex F.A. Senior Cup Quarter Final, back in the days when replays were still a part of the game. An added attraction tonight was that it was Guernsey who were the visitors.

The game was a real ’six pointer’ as bottom of the table was hosting fourth bottom, although Guernsey are in a bit of a false position, as following travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, it sees them having seven games in hand on most of the clubs in the bottom half of the table.

As dull as last night’s game at Sutton United was, this was the complete opposite. In fact, the first half was as good as I’m likely to see anywhere this season. Both teams attacked at every opportunity and it was a surprise that it took twenty four minutes before the first goal arrived. Once it did, the floodgates opened. The opener went the way of the visitors and they added a second just four minutes later. Within a minute, Staines pulled it back to 1-2, but Guernsey restored their two goal lead almost immediately. We only had to wait another three minutes for the next goal, as a superb free kick, into the top corner from the angle of the box pulled it back to 2-3. Five minutes later, Guernsey made it 2-4, when goal machine Ross Allen scored his second goal of the night, scoring at the near post, but he was injured in the process, resulting in him being substituted a couple of minutes later. According to the Guernsey F.C. website he has scored 267 goals for them in 270 appearances! Even at non-league level, that is some record. After an incredible spell of six goals in 15 minutes, it was a shame that there had to be a halftime.

The second half never matched the first, but that would have been too much to ask. Staines still battled, but Guernsey powered on to add four more goals, two of which were penalties, to run out deserved 2-8 winners. If only all relegation battles were as good as this. Fantastic entertainment.