Match Report

FARNBOROUGH VETS IN CLEAN SHEET SHOCK.
It’s been a long time coming but after 66 games we finally managed to keep a clean sheet thanks to resolute defending combined with some excellent saves from Gary in goal. In fact the way we have been playing lately it was nothing more than we deserved and we even had the luxury of missing at least 3 dead certs (names withheld to avoid embarrassment). Some people would say it is almost fantasy football that we are playing - well I would as my own personal tally of FF points would have been 8 from the game being 2 points for an assist, 3 for a clean sheet and to top it off 3 for a goal.
These days it is difficult to get a game as we have a settled squad of 16 players most of whom turned up on Sunday in bright sunny conditions on a slightly frosty pitch. The team lined up with Gary Rosslee in goal, back four of Pat Mongelard, Steve Blanchard, Chris Webb and Roger French, midfield Paul Storkey, Chris Ponulak, Toby Harlow and Colin Ebdon with Paul Smith and Toby Manchip up front. The team was well supported with subs of Chris Bourlet, Trevor Stewart (aka Stewart Stewart) and Ian Shoebridge. Mark James once again stepped into the centre circle as ref and didn''t move too far from it except to take a leak whilst the game progressed.
The Vets have upped the standard of late and discovered the passing game to good effect. This game continued in the same vein and we took control from the start. The whole team has improved as a unit with everybody displaying good passing and movement. Our first goal came as the ball was picked up in the middle of the park by me and clinically laid off to top scorer Paul Smith who turned, carried the ball forward and shot from outside the box to put us 1-0 up. Colin Ebdon was next to try his luck with another of his mazy runs into the box beating 3 or 4 players en route but was unable to find the back of the net. Our second goal came as we pressured the Toby defence into heading the ball back to their keeper and the whippet-like Storkey beating the keeper to the ball and lofting it into the net. Toby Vets contributed to a keenly contested game with a number of attacks which were well handled by the Farnborough defence. So half-time came with the 3 amigos coming on for Toby H, Storkey and myself. The manager’s talk was more of the same - let’s get another win before Christmas.
The second half continued with both sides having a fair share of attacks and possession with us being guilty of wasting more chances than we are used to getting but with 20 minutes to and the score remaining the same more substitutions took place with the half-time subs coming back into play. This pushed Ian Shoebridge up into attack which allowed him to miss one golden opportunity but more than made up for it shortly after when he grabbed the 3rd goal. Chances on goal were now coming thick and fast as Chris Bourlet was the next to be presented with an almost open goal but Wurzle Gummidge seemed to have mixed up his turnip head with Inspector B''s and the ball was headed wide of the open net. Next up was a corner expertly swung in by Shoey from the left to find the head of the floating left back (who had not yet found the energy to return to the defensive line following his latest foray up front) to loop a deft header into the back of the net for our 4th and final goal of the game. Shortly after the final whistle went when the ref eventually worked out which end to blow into.
An excellent display by all 14 players - a clean sheet, four goals and plenty of missed chances. People are enjoying playing and opposition teams are now being given a decent game. Four weeks ago we lost to Toby 4-1 but have now managed to turn this around quite convincingly. Heres to a Happy Christmas and an excellent New Year.