Match Report

Honours Even in Mid Table Battle

The Guild went into this mid table encounter looking for a repeat performance of their best result of the season so far; a 4-1 win just four weeks earlier at FKG Sports. However, we knew we were in for a tough game as Tudor would look to reverse that result.

In the early stages, Tudor looked the better side with a couple of efforts that should have put the away side two up in the opening fifteen minutes. With the game in its infancy, McTaggart raced through and lobbed the on-rushing Hawkes in the Guild goal. The Guild stopper got enough on the effort to slow the goalbound lob sufficiently for Judge to race back and clear the danger on the goal line. Ten minutes later an air shot by Hawkes in the Guild goal presented Moore with a glorious chance to open the scoring but once again the Skipper was on hand to make a timely intervention to keep the scores level.

On twenty minutes, the Guild side took the lead, when Cooke J cleverly finished to Bradley’s left after swift build up play. It was against the run of play which must have frustrated Tudor. The goal gave the Guild a lift and we started to gain some composure, but five minutes from the break, Tudor deservedly pulled level when McTaggert levelled from the spot after he had been fouled in the box.

At the half we realised that we had not played that well or got any grip on the game and the frustrating encounter was not helped by weather conditions that changed by the minute. We had to up our efforts if we would have any chance of overcoming the opposition.

The second half was much better for the Guild, but both sides were somewhat frustrated by indecisive refereeing which lacked control of the game. The Guild got more and more into the game as the half went on and looked the more likely side to score. Davis crashed an effort against the bar and had another effort well saved by Bradley in the Tudor goal.

By now, we had tightened up defensively and Davis and Judge at the back were comfortable and controlling things. On 65 minutes, the Guild changed the formation to try and win the game with Stevens replacing Small and a formation shuffle to liven things up. More bodies further up the park gave Guild more of the ball and looked more of an attacking threat. Perkins headed over from a Williams J in-swinging corner. Meanwhile the referee still decided to dish out cards at an alarming rate, despite nothing malicious from either side.

Carpenter replaced Cleaver B for the remaining five minutes.

The game finished honours even which benefitted neither side. It was an evenly fought contest with Tudor starting the better side, but the Guild looking better in the second period of play. Both teams could claim they had cases for the win, but a draw was probably a fair result.

Tudor were probably the pre-season favourites for the title after finishing third last year, so 4 points won against them is a great haul and I have been happy with the way that we have played them across this season.

Man of the match for the Guild was Skipper Judge who kept us in it in the early stages making two timely interventions, a real decent return from injury. Davis as well made a real decent account for himself with the pair of them snuffing out the danger of the Tudor front pairing.

We now have seven games left with five at home. This Saturday we have Greenways at home who are a real decent team and we are going to have to be on our game if we wish to get anything out of the fixture. We will need to be switched on from the start and show higher levels of organization and desire. We certainly need to talk and communicate more as at times there was no communication to the player on the ball. The player on the ball is the most important player on the park and in order for him to have a positive affect with the ball we need to communicate at all times.

All fixtures to the end of the season are now online which includes a couple of bank holiday games and a midweeker against Chipstead. Please check the fixture list and ensure your availability and your timing is sorted.

Let’s put the effort in and finish the season strongly.

P.S. The first team has eleven wins this season – one more than the Vets!

Farnborough: 1. Hawkes; 2. Small; 3. Eales; 4. Judge ©; 5. Davis; 6. Abbott; 7. Williams J; 8. Perkins; 9. Williams L; 10. Cooke J; 11. Cleaver B

Subs: 12. Stevens; 15. Carpenter

Tudor Sports: 1. Bradley; 2. Butler; 3. Maloney; 4; Cohen 5. Allmond; 6. Beever; 7. Gill; 8. Rowe; 9. McTaggart; 10. Moore; 11. Sansom

Subs: 12. Speed; 16. Harris