Boars overcome Guernsey Lions in FA Vase: Guernsey 1 -2 Roffey

Roffey made the journey to the Channel Islands without skipper Dan Pearse, defenders Jack Meeres and Dylan Pauw and striker Bailey Moyo, as well as Pat Gibbs and James Pearse who were not quite recovered from injury. Byron Napper moved to centre back with a new midfield pairing of Tom Caplin and Teddy Wood.

The home side set up with a low block as they had in their 1-0 victory at Horsham a few weeks earlier and it was Roffey who threatened first after eight minutes when a sharp combination between Stan Berry and Jordan Mase looked like it had put Berry through but a defender managed to toe it out for a corner. A minute later the Roffey press won possession back outside the home area and Mase curled an effort just over the bar.

On twenty minutes a Roffey attack was intercepted, and the ball fell for Dylan Graham who got away from the defenders and finished clinically past Charlie Burton in the Boars’ goal. The Boars were only behind for two minutes when Evan Hoarty robbed a defender, got to the byline and drove the ball across for Berry to react first and score from closed range.

After the two quick goals the game settled down with Roffey having most of the possession and Guernsey sitting back. The Boars were showing patience, trying to work another opening and Mase had a shot gathered by Seb Sheppard in the home goal. Ten minutes before half time, Luca Allen, who had been tormenting his full back all half, cut inside and hit a shot that was bound for the bottom corner before Sheppard got down to make an excellent save. Next Napper brought the ball forward and found Mase between the lines and he slipped in Wood for another goal bound shot that was brilliantly saved by Sheppard and the ball was scrambled clear. As half time approached Wood played a delightful ball through the defence for Allen whose shot was again kept out by Sheppard at the near post. HT 1-1

The home side became more progressive after the break and on sixty-two minutes had their second shot on target, but Burton got down to his left to save, Another Guernsey attack saw Burton go down to his right to save comfortably. A close-range header was brilliantly turned away by the Roffey stopper. Fazackerley then had a header wide of the mark. At the other end Allen had a shot blocked and then hit the rebound over. Then on seventy-two minutes came the deciding moment. The ball was worked down the Roffey right and then back to Mase who exchanged passes with Caplin before driving a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Mase nearly added to the lead with a run and one two with Berry deep into the home penalty box but his effort was blocked and scrambled away. As the game entered the last ten minutes, Sub Max Mesquita tried his luck but was too high with his shot. Guernsey were pressing for an equaliser but were mainly reduced to long shots, crosses and dangerous long throws. The Boars were always dangerous on the break and Mesquita fed Allen who shot just over. Stan Berry was put through on goal but again Sheppard came to the hosts’ rescue.

There was a moment of danger for Roffey from a Guernsey long throw that was headed on to the back post where Burton had to be sharp to snatch the ball away from the incoming attacker. Then there was confusion when Berry was caught offside, Sheppard played the ball to Jamie Dodd who picked it up and placed it for what he thought was the free kick, but the officials deemed the ball was already in play and penalised him for handball. From the kick Berry ran through and found the net but was adjudged to have fouled his defender. Roffey had to put in series of defensive headers as the game entered stoppage time and Wood had to leave the field for 30 seconds despite not having received any treatment after a collision in the box. Roffey kept possession until the final whistle and were through to the first round proper of the FA Vase where they will host Kings Langley from the South Midlands Le ague.

Roffey: Burton, Harrison, Gibson, Caplin, Napper, Difika, Hoarty(Mesquita), Mase, S Berry, Wood, Allen.

Subs: Andrade, Smith, J Berry.