Match Report

Sat in the car on what I would imagine was the hottest day of the year to date somehow I was able to contain my excitement knowing that with each passing second I was getting closer to 90 action filled, blood pumping, heart pounding minutes……but alas this was not on my way to today’s home fixture against Orpington Vets oh no this was actually on my way from Farrow Fields, coincidently enough I was in Orpington, on Sevenoaks Way en route to Homebase, for today’s match had about the same level of excitement and was played in the same amount of enthusiasm as trudging round a DIY store for nearly 2 hours. Expletive, Expletive, Expletive!!!

For unbeknown to us until we arrived at the clubhouse still sleepy from the loss of an hour's kip today’s opposition could only assemble 7 players in total; therefore a decision needed to be made, and here is a question that could easily be used in a future OBG Quiz Night. ‘What do you think Farnborough decided to do? Did they….. (A) Call the game off (B) let Orpington use some of their players seeing as we normally have around 17 in total (C) call upon the Farnborough Youth Team and their respective fathers / guardians as their game against Wilmington had been called off. Now I know what you are thinking the most likely answer would have been (B) as Farnborough have always had the luxury of 5 or 6 substitutes and therefore able to lend the opposition players so this would not have been uncommon but the correct answer was in fact (C), call upon the Farnborough Youth Team and their respective fathers / guardians as their game against Wilmington had been called off – who knew?

We lined up as follows

Gary Rosslee – GK
Robin Lipscomb – LB
Paul Brett – CB
Paul Bailey – CB
Rich Davies – RB
George Kleanthous – LM
Neil Connelly – CM
Grant Gable – CM
Daragh Nott – RM
Paul Tanton – CF
Pete Harvey - CF

Subs

Danny Saines
Mark Friend
Darren Burkett (who I understand was in attendance between 09:30 and 10:15 but rumour has it he disappeared to erect a trampoline for Master Connelly!)

In what turned out to be one of the biggest waste of times in many of our lives Farnborough had enough good chances in the first half an hour to put the game beyond reach but nobody in a red shirt could convert the chance and find the net, not mentioning any names but both Daragh Nott and Paul Tanton were guilty of missing open goals from a matter of yards out.

Today’s playing surface resembled more of an Indian cricket pitch than a Kentish football pitch and on too many occasions Farnborough failed to pass the ball to each other the best excuse was ‘the ball is like a marble’. Somehow Farnborough went a goal behind after Orpington caught them on a counter attack and a cross from the right hand side took a deflection off of Paul Brett and beat Rosslee at his inside post – 0-1 Orpington. Daragh however soon made amends for his previous miss by netting the equalising goal and send the teams into the break a goal apiece.

With the midday sun now beaming down on to the pitch and little sign of a 1/3 of the Orpington player’s legs tiring Orpington almost took the lead. Rosslee fumbled a tame effort which ricocheted back off of the upright and fell to an unmarked Youthful player but Rosslee did well to block the rebound. Farnborough continued to pepper the Orpington goal and then took the lead courtesy of a penalty – neatly despatched by George Kleanthous 2-1 Farnborough. The ref however had another penalty in him and he duly awarded Orpington a penalty when Mark Friend was adjudged to have fouled one of the young’uns in the box. The “mature” penalty taker for Orpington then snatched the ball away from the young lad and slotted it home, much to the disappointment of the youngster who later “dissed” him on his Facebook page! So 2-2 and thankfully the ref put us out of our misery.

In hindsight today’s game probably was not necessary, it was not played in our usual spirit, it didn’t help morale and unfortunately it robbed us of a couple of players ahead of next Sunday's game against Lloyds Golden Oldies. Fair play to the young Farnborough lads who helped out Orpington today, it's good to see there is some decent talent coming through the ranks.

Moan of the match

George & Danny hobbled off with hamstring injuries making then serious doubts for next week against Lloyds Golden Oldies who are going to be our biggest test this year.

Man of the match - Paul Bailey