Guernsey FC ready for final challenge - Vance

Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance says his side will face a difficult challenge when they host Peacehaven and Telscombe in their delayed Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final.

The Green Lions - who finished third in the division - host their fifth-placed opponents for the final place in Isthmian League South East next season.

Guernsey beat their opponents 6-0 when they visited Victoria Park two months ago, but Vance says a repeat of that result is very unlikely.

"I think we need to manage everyone's expectations a little bit," Vance told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"I'm not going to hide away from the fact that we should be favourites and probably are favourites, but we're playing a very good team and whenever we've played them they've been really good.

"When we beat them down here 6-0 everyone would think that was a standout performance, but it was one of those days where we played really well, everything went to plan and, for them, everything went wrong - but it wasn't a 6-0 sort of difference.

"They're a good side and I'm not going to take that match into any consideration here."

The match itself has an air of controversy after a series of delays.

Guernsey were due to host the fixture on 10 May but with Liberation Day celebrations that weekend, they were unable to organise suitable travel at short notice.

The league initially stripped Guernsey of hosting the game, ordering it to be played on 12 or 13 May on the English mainland.

But, after talks, Guernsey had their home advantage for finishing higher in the league restored and the game will kick off at 13:30 BST on Saturday.

"It has impacted both teams, but ultimately, for us, it was obviously disappointing and frustrating the fact that it was taken away from us," added Vance.

"It was ridiculous really because we earned that and I'm so glad we've got it back and that everyone's seen sense and realised that the rules weren't being adhered to.

"We've got it back on merit, we're in the final on merit and we're at home on merit but Peacehaven are in our way and we've got to be really 'on it' and make sure our focus is 100% on the game."

The play-off final comes a week after many of Guernsey's players were involved in a morale-boosting 2-1 Muratti Vase win over Jersey for the island football association's representative side last week.

It will be a chance for Guernsey FC to return to the eighth tier of English football, a year after being relegated for the first time in their history.

"When we started we were aiming for the play-offs because we knew we're not geared up enough to win the league because we've never got our strongest side every game," said Vance.

"To finish third, that was the optimistic target if you like, so we've achieved that, but now we've got an opportunity to go and win a final so let's see if we can do that.

"I don't think we're quite ready to go up yet, we've had a great time in this league and enjoyed ourselves and it's allowed us to play a different brand of football.

"Time will tell, but at the moment let's just try and get this game away and if we win, fantastic, if we don't then we'll have another stab next year."