Before kick off the club paid tribute to our late President Pam Tomsett, whose family has been involved with Lingfield FC from its foundation, with a minute of silence.

A positive start against one of just two unbeaten sides in the division as we pushed Guernsey back in the opening minutes. With just over ten minutes played we had possession in their box, looking to have a shot, the ball came to Yusuf McGregor for an attempt that was saved. Following the resulting corner and a free kick, we were still pressing around the Guernsey box when Kristian Belousas slid the ball into McGregor. He cut onto his left foot and fired the ball home for 1-0 after 14mins. Two minutes later McGregor had the ball on the left wing again and fizzed a shot across the goal. Jack McDonnell was driving forward with the ball on 18min and was taken out by their keeper outside the box. Nothing more than a yellow card and free kick that Kwesi Ntim hit into the wall. Midway through the half and McDonnell made a fierce tackle on the right wing and took the ball down the line. He passed to Ntim in the centre who rode a foul challenge, held off other players inside the box to put the ball inside the right post for 2-0.

On 29mins McDonnell did a good job to cover on the left of the box to concede a throw. A deflection gave Guernsey a corner from the left that they took short allowing Stephen Hodge to come out, win the ball and take it clear. The pressure was telling on the visitors as their No. 5 talked himself into a ten minute sit on the bench with thirteen minutes to the break. Now with a man advantage, Alex Kpakpe stung the keeper's hands with a shot from outside the box that nearly allowed Ntim to get onto the loose ball. McGregor then had a shot from the right of the box that was saved and in going for the ball Gabriel Odunaike was judged to have fouled the keeper. Inside the last ten minutes Guyni Nganga stopped Guernsey's progress down their left and rode a couple of tackles to bring the ball forward. They did have a corner from the right on 38mins but Sang Baek cleared it forward to Odunaike to hold up and feed McGregor but Guernsey were able to defend. Inside the last five minutes and Belousas and Odunaike linked up on the right to give Ntim a shot that was deflected away. Into added time and a Guernsey cross was headed out to Kpakpe to take forward. He found McGregor on the left wing to take the ball into the box and shoot. His shot was saved but the rebound fell to Ntim to score and make it 3-0 at half time.

It was hard to know who was more shocked – the visitors or us – after the first half. Still another forty-five minutes to go to see out the game and take the points. It did not take long before McGregor did well on the right wing to get the ball across to Ntim who dummied his man and crossed. The ball was deflected behind for a corner that Kpakpe got his head to but not on target. Just three minutes into the half and Iker Noguera Leon was set up for a shot that hit the outside of the left post. On 54mins Ntim unleashed a shot from outside the box that was just inches wide of the left post with the keeper nowhere. On the hour and from a free kick into the box Luke Richardson got his head to it but could only send it upwards. Richardson was first to the falling ball and headed it against the cross bar. With still plenty of time remaining in the match, Guernsey sent the ball long down the left touchline but Richardson was quick to come across with a solid tackle.

A first change going into the final twenty minutes as William English replaced Noguera Leon. Ntim won a free kick outside the box which Kpakpe took and hit straight at the keeper. On 75mins Jason Stripp replaced Richardson and a minute later Belousas hit a thunderbolt free kick that beat the keeper, hit the underside of the bar and went into the net for 4-0. Two minutes later we had another shot on target as Ntim won the ball and took it into the box for a shot that was at the keeper. Having got his eye in, on 87mins Belousas hit a shot from beyond the D that hit the left post. McDonnell was replaced by Jordan Bartley-Daye to see out the game. Two minutes left on the clock and Rewan Alyasi from the left set up McGregor for a shot that was blocked. Alyasi was driving into the box a minute later and was taken down for a penalty. He stepped up to dummy the keeper and roll the ball home for 5-0. Odunaike was replaced by Oliver Thompson as we went into added time. With a clean sheet in our grasp, failing to just put the ball downfield let Guernsey spare some of their blushes with a goal. A further four minutes of added time were made a bit nervier than it should have been but were seen out for a memorable Lingers win.

Having beaten Guernsey last season in the home fixture – and given a good account ourselves on the island – and coming after a solid performance at Haywards Heath Town where the home side admitted they got away with one, there was every chance we could win again. But nobody expected this dominant display that just lacked the magic clean sheet. This is just one result and 32 games still remain, but if the lads can repeat something like this going forward, starting tomorrow at Horsham YM, we can spend a season looking up and not down. The table is still messy with teams playing five, six or seven games and this weekend is the FA Cup which sees East Grinstead Town, Haywards Heath Town and Pagham in action. Seven league fixtures are taking place with the leaders Eastbourne United flying to Guernsey as the pick. Ahead of tomorrow, The Lingers are now eighth in the table, third of a group of four on ten points. Our win gave us a +3 goal difference and are fourth highest scorers. Roffey lead our group with six games played like ourselves. Newhaven and Midhurst & Easebourne – our next home opponents a week on Wednesday have played five games. Out of our group, Roffey are not playing this weekend.