Match Report

Once more changes in personnel with Jake Adams missing having suffered the consequences of drinking too many bottles of Hooch and Metz at his 18th birthday party the night before, and George Burkett missing the second game in succession through injury. Returning to the fray were Michael Clark, Ben Donaghey and Danny Clark who missed the last outing through either unavailability or injury.

This week's guests at FOBG were Eltham Progress, a side that found themselves in division 1 following relegation in the last campaign. The two sides took to the field with a strong wind likely to impact the game.

Farnborough started well, creating within the opening minutes, winning the ball from the opposing side's kick off and going at them with real intent and purpose. This proved to be an insight as to what was to follow during the first 45 minutes. Individual battles were won all over the park when not in possession with players pressing, competing and hassling in all quarters of the field. With the ball the passing was crisp, accurate and varied, leaving the Eltham Progress backline looking unsure and uncomfortable with at least 4-5 very decent chances being created.

True to form this season, Farnborough's only reward was a solitary goal scored courtesy of a mix up in the six yard box resulting in an own goal. The first half ended all square at 1-1 with Eltham Progress benefiting from the referee overruling the linesman, on what looked a definite offside decision. It could, and should, have been so different. Donaghey hit the bar and had another miraculously saved by a goalkeeper that knew little about the heroics he had just performed...the ball hitting his large frame from 2 yards!

The second half started and finished without too much incident. Substitute Wray went close and Wilson, Butler and Benningfield were always a threat from set pieces but the half was very much a stop-start affair. The final whistle blew with the scores locked at 1-1.

Not the return to victory we were looking for, but a step in the right direction. The defence looked assured and in control, made so much easier by Darren Burkett, again standing in for George, marshalling the back line well with non-stop communication. The midfield four dominated in the first 45, creating chances and were never in danger of being out fought or over run. The front line of Donaghey and Wilson linked well, causing problems and defending from the front. An improvement ten-fold on the last showing.

MOM votes were spread throughout with Wilson just edging out Butler to walk away with the accolade. Wilson was playing in a less favoured forward role today but led the line well and gave the Farnborough side a different dimension to their play.

This Sunday is another home league game against against a newly promoted FRSH United. They have had an indifferent start to the season, picking up 4 points from 4 games. They put 5 past Cudham, drew with Eltham Progress and lost by the odd goal to the Ex-Blues side that beat Farnborough so comfortably two weeks ago. They appear to be an outfit that are a strong side when they have the personnel available, and so we go a little into the unknown.

Todays team: GK - D. Burkett, RB - S. Small, CB - B. Beesley, CB - A. Benningfield, LB - T. Skrine, RM - J. Miller (M. Clark), CM - P. Butler, CM - D. Clark (J. Ellis), LM - D. Head, CF - M. Wilson, CF - B. Donaghey (A. Wray)

A REMINDER - £45 REGISTRATION MUST BE PAID BY THIS SUNDAY, OTHERWISE PENALTIES INCURRED.