Match Report

Last season’s 3-2 defeat to Eltham Town Vets is still etched in the memory of yours truly like it was only yesterday, Farnborough were 2-0 up at half time and seemed to be cruising to an away victory only to be undone by a second half hat-trick by their centre forward who wasn’t even wearing his own boots! Now I’m not making allegations that he stole them in the August riots, no I am referring to the fact that his boots had split during the game and he had to borrow some from a team mate (with that said, after netting a hat-trick with them I do wonder if he ever returned them).

Now fast forward 12 months and Eltham Town Vets were playing under the name of STC Sports Vets, however they appeared to line up with a similar starting XI as last season. Farnborough on the other went in to the match with 5 different changes to last season\'s starting XI this time last year.

Farnborough lined up as follows

Gary Rosslee, GK
Danny Saines, LB
Barry Simpson, CB
Andy Cobham, CB
Simon Hunt, RB
Jason Miller, LM
Jim St John, CM
Matt Wright, CM
Rowan Foggitt, RM
Paul Tanton, CF
Pete Harvey, CF

Subs,

Paul Bailey
Danny Clark
Mark Friend
Simon Davies

The February sun was beating down from the cloudless sky and would have made the first half quite difficult for the team playing directly into the sun. In this case it was the home team, however they actually started the brightest and the centre back pairing of Andy Cobham and Barry Simpson were called into early action to intercept any potential danger as STC knocked the ball around with confidence. For all of their possession STC did not record an effort on target for the first 20 minutes until Rosslee who had more time than he realised fluffed a clearance outside the box on the right hand side, the ball fell straight to a grateful STC Player who must have thought he had scored but his effort was blocked by Barry Simpson on the edge of the 6 yard box and then the follow-up which looked even more destined to break the scores was expertly headed off of the line by Andy Cobham, much to the relief of Rosslee.

Farnborough then enjoyed spells of possession and Matt Wright taking up a more central role was heavily brought down inside the STC penalty box leaving the ref with no option but to award a spot kick. With regular penalty taker Richard Davies still out with injury and last week\'s missed effort probably still playing in the back of Matt’s mind up stepped Farnborough’s Pete Harvey to assume spot kick responsibilities. Unfortunately Pete who by his own admission admitted this season has not been his most successful in terms of finding the net put the ball over the bar, it later emerged he had been suffering from what they call in medical industry as ‘Torres-itus’. I don’t recall the STC keeper being drawn into a single save and soon after the whistle went for half time, 0-0.

The second half saw the inclusion of Paul Bailey, Simon Davies, Danny Clark and Mark Friend as Simon Hunt, Danny Saines, Jumbo and Paul Tanton all made way. The latter apparently had to go and watch half a marathon (he’d eaten the other half the night before). With the sound of the ref\'s whistle still echoing around the ground Paul Bailey then pulled up with his first touch and had to be replaced by Simon Hunt at right back. Now according to Jumbo’s half time words of wisdom STC would start to tire in the second half and then they would be ours for the taking. Well that couldn’t have been further form the truth as the ball appeared to be in Farnborough\'s half for the remainder of the match. Thankfully the defence stood up to every wave of attack and Rosslee also played his part with several confident catches from the home team\'s long throw-ins and corners to relieve the constant pressure.

STC were very unlucky not to open the scoring with their first real effort on target, the ball was crossed into the box from out left to their centre forward who had been their main threat all match and with 20 goals to his name this season who better to break the deadlock, however his well placed downward header bounced off of the left hand post to keep the scores still level. Farnborough by now had run out of ideas in the STC final third and when an argument ensued between 2 OBG players (who will remain unnamed) resulted in one leaving the field Farnborough just couldn’t wait for the ref to blow for full time. There was still enough time on the clock for a goal and God knows the game needed one and STC may have thought they had snatched the win after Rosslee decided to come for another long throw into the box but appeared to take a nudge and agonisingly dropped the ball at the feet of an unmarked STC player, but his first time effort was brilliantly blocked from point blank range by Rosslee, albeit in the face. The ref blew for full time and Farnborough had snatched a good clean sheet thanks to the rearguard.

Next week we are home to Santos, and the last time we played them away at the Beaverwood we beat them comprehensively 6-1 in the end and the game had a couple of memorable strikes at both ends.

MOM today was Andy Cobham for an excellent display of defending

Moan of the day, the DVD copies sold in the bar after the game!