Loaring late show sees Guernsey start 2025 with win

Matt Loaring took his tally to six goals in his last five appearances for Guernsey FC

Matt Loaring's stoppage-time goal saw Guernsey FC come from 2-0 down to beat Sutton Common Rovers 4-3 as they started 2025 on a positive note.

Loaring headed in a late winner which saw the Green Lions get their fourth win of the season and their third in seven games.

They remain second from bottom of Isthmian League South Central but are just four points from safety.

"To start the New Year in that way was was really pleasurable," coach Steve Sharman told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"Having had the last-minute goals go against us in quite a few games in 2024 it was nice to get on the right side of the ledger for the start of 2025."

Daniel Pepple's two goals had seen fourth-from-bottom Sutton Common Rovers go 2-0 up before Loaring converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Sam Murray scored twice in a 10-minute period after the break to see the hosts lead 3-2 with an hour gone, only for Pepple to equalise in the 82nd minute.

But just as it seemed the game would end in a draw Loaring got the winner in the fifth minute of additional time.

"The group is very together," added Sharman.

"GFC often operates in adversity and we lost two of our most creative players by half-time in Charlton Gauvain and Ben Acey - two players that would grace any team in our league.

"But we set the challenge for those younger players that were coming on to say 'look, you have an opportunity now to hold on to the shirt' and I thought they all rose to the challenge.

"A 2-1 scoreline at half-time was probably a little bit false, I thought we played very well in awful conditions in the first half. Goals change games and they got two speculative shots and got two goals and I thought our guys came back really well."