Match Report

We could easily have got ‘bogged down’ in both on and off the pitch deliberations which would have ‘muddied’ our excellent achievement. Instead we can hold our heads up high and be sure that our better footballing skills won an important three points and keep us in contention for a top three finish.

Eltham Town were out of the blocks quicker than us and passed and moved exceptionally well for the first 10 minutes. However they seemed frustrated that all the possession was leading to nothing due to excellent defending across the back four. As the half progressed we fought ourselves back into the game, as Eltham Town were fighting with themselves out of the game! Eltham were dangerous, and put themselves about a bit, which Piers and Josh handled really well with tough tackles going in from both sides. Leigh was called upon to make a save low down with his feet to frustrate the Eltham players even more. Adam continuously running and continuously getting fouled down the right wing was having an excellent game, showing real ingenuity and pace in the muddy conditions. It was from a resulting free kick that Luke Dunne found the head of Simon Davies, who flicked on to Dave Thompson and he chested the ball down, turned, and the shot beat the keeper. Real pressure from us ensued, and the next 15 minutes was all Farnborough, with excellent corners being taken by Chris Charlton finding the head of Josh on a couple of occasions which went wide of the goal, and then a strong effort tipped over by the Eltham keeper who was very good. Piers three efforts were not quite as strong, and I am sure the Eltham groundsman will be complaining on Monday about the divots! Eltham went into half time 1-0 down and were slightly disappointed to say the least!

The second half Eltham again started much stronger, but Ben Tomkins was always there to push the ball away from the attackers at crucial moments. Luke and James Behagg were superbly strong in the air, and James was showing his talents on the deck as well, by jinking past a couple of reckless tackles that were coming his way. Leigh showed agility in goal and again showed what a great shot stopper he is, leading to parrying goal bound efforts wide of the post and then fisting them away as the corners came flying in. Eltham were pushing for an equaliser, and we were getting pegged back, but we were very dangerous on the counter attack with the pace of Adam and Chris on the wings being supported by Simon, Dave and Josh, a potent attacking five that were causing Eltham Town problems all game. Michael was beginning to support Chris on the left which gave us even more options. We then got caught on a counter attack from Eltham, as the ball was neatly passed down the wing and driven hard and low across Leigh, that he again parried, but only for one of two Eltham players to sneak round the back and side foot home. They celebrated as if they had won the game, but it shows how they have the winning mentality of a top team.

We dug in for 5 minutes and composed ourselves, no panicking and still showed we could live with not being bullied off the ball. We were determined to give our attacking midfield wings a chance to get round the tiring Eltham defenders. Adam got fouled for the umpteenth time, and this time Chris came over from the left and stroked a peach of a left footer into the top corner as everyone piled into the goalmouth.

We even had a couple of chances to make it 3 with Dave going close and probably Piers burrowing another one in the ground like a squirrel for next year! Leigh pulled off an excellent one handed stop at the feet of the Eltham attacker in the final few moments that won us the three points.