Guernsey FC thrashed by league leaders Haywards Heath

Guernsey FC have lost five of their 13 games in the league this season

Guernsey FC became the latest team to succumb to runaway Southern Combination Premier Division leaders Haywards Heath Town as the were thrashed 6-1 in Sussex.

Having produced a fine save early on, Josh Addison could do little to stop the hosts going in front after nine minutes as Tom Chalaye pounced on a loose pass and calmly slotted past the Guernsey goalkeeper.

Chalaye made it 2-0 midway through the first half before Addison denied him his hat-trick soon after.

But the Haywards Heath striker made no mistake in the 35th minute when he completed his treble before Matt Astle's tap-in made it 4-0 three minutes later.

Guernsey started the second half of the 300th away game in their history well as they had a penalty appeal waved away before Ross Allen went close.

But the hosts - who took their tally to 14 wins from 14 league games this season - resumed control.

Flynn Bolton fired into the bottom corner to make it 5-0 in the 58th minute before Henry Watson tapped in their sixth seven minutes later as he reacted quickest after Jack Barnes had headed a long throw against the crossbar.

Fin Patterson's goal with 12 minutes left eased any fears that the Green Lions might equal their worst-ever result of an 8-0 defeat when he headed in Callum Le Lacheur's cross to make it 6-1.

The loss was Guernsey's fifth in 13 games this season having been relegated from the Isthmian League in April.

"First five minutes we started strongly and I thought we could have a good day," Guernsey FC manager Tony Vance told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"We only had 13 players so we didn't have many options or opportunities, but after that everything went downhill.

"They were good. I don't think they earned the goals, and that's the most disappointing thing for me.

"We haven't shown in that first period that we're good enough to match them.

"They are a good side, you can see why they are where they are, but for me we were well off and we gave some really, really poor goals away.

"Ultimately it was really poor from us in the first half and they capitalised on it."