Match Report

On paper we were due to play Edenbridge Vets at Farrow Fields however Edenbridge have had an uncanny knack of not always fulfilling their obligations on the road over the past couple of seasons much to the frustration of the Farnborough Senior Vets side. The Young Vets had made the pleasant trip down to Edenbridge in our 3rd game of the new season back in September and returned with the spoils running out comprehensive 1-5 winners. So yours truly and a number of the squad were hardly surprised when we were told we would not be playing against them today. However on behalf of the Young Vets can I say thank you to Toby ‘Lord Lucan’ Harlow for rearranging our fixture between last Sunday and midweek in order for us to still have a match today and what a good choice of opposition in Charlton Rangers Vets.

Both sides had met twice this season already, the last game resulting g a 2-2 draw at Farrow Fields and a previous 1-0 victory to Charlton down at Queen Mary’s back in November of last year.

Farnborough lined up in an unfamiliar dark blue kit today as Jumbo had forgotten to pick up the kit from the launderette (doughnut) and with Simon Davies, and Pete Harvey unavailable Neil Connelly was pushed up front with Paul Tanton.

Gary Rosslee, GK
Danny Saines, LB
Paul Brett, CB
Andy Cobham, CB
Daragh Nott, RB
Matt Wright. LM
Jim St John, CM
Grant Gable, CM
Jason Miller, RM
Paul Tanton, CF
Neil Connelly, CF

Subs:
Mark Friend
Richard Davies

Charlton Rangers are a very good football team and they do the basics well, such as closing down and pressing when they don’t have the ball and offer plenty of support and running to their men when in possession of the ball. They also have some very good forwards all of them different in their own unique styles of play and appearance! They opted to go with their smaller pacy forward and a more mature forward for the first half and it was Charlton who exerted the early pressure keeping the Farnborough back 4 on the back foot for the opening 10 or 15 minutes.

Farnborough managed to ride the storm and soon carved out the first decent scoring opportunity of the match, Jim St John hitting the post from a downward header from a few yards out. Jason Miller continued his fine form from last week and tormented the Charlton Rangers left back for the entire 90 minutes and was always at the heart of Farnborough’s creativity and attacking play and Grant Gable had an equally good game in the middle winning umpteen important headers and tackles to break up the play when Farnborough looked outnumbered on the counterattack. He was also unlucky not to score with a decent headed opportunity from yet another Jason Miller pinpoint cross. The nearest Charlton came to scoring was from an outstretched Paul Brett boot that nearly caught Rosslee out but was thankfully clutched from the air to save some blushes. The first half somehow ended up goalless courtesy of some brave defending from the visitors and some excellent goalkeeping from the Rangers keeper, most notably a smart save from Paul Tanton after he was put through one on one.

Half time saw Mark Friend come on for Danny Saines and he almost scored with his first touch from a corner and again from a header (today must have been the most headed efforts I have ever seen us have). Just when Farnborough and the small gathering by the dugouts thought it was going to be “one of those days” a quickly taken corner by Daragh Nott to Jason Miller saw his excellent pass headed home by Matt Wright at the near post to finally break the deadlock, 1-0 OBG\'s.

By now Richard Davies had also come on a right back after being sidelined with an injury for several months and thankfully he came through the game unscathed.

Then Paul Tanton and Neil Connelly combined well to add a second for the OBG’s; this time Farnborough beat the offside trap whilst all of the Charlton Rangers players stared at their player on the line looking for his flag to go up, alas it didn’t and Paul Tanton squared the ball unselfishly for Neil Connelly to stroke the ball into an empty net, 2-0 OBG’s. Today Farnborough played some of the best football I have witnessed them play as they made use of the entire pitch and they added a third of the match with no arguments; this TIME it was Grant Gable who expertly curled in an effort from some 30 yards out leaving the Charlton GK no chance, 3-0 OBG’s.

The opposition to their credit did try and claw a way back in to the game but the likes of Andy Cobham and Paul Brett were on hand to deal with any danger, Andy Cobham making some very valuable interceptions in the Farnborough 18 yard box. With the midday sun beating down Farnborough netted a 4th of the match with a well-worked goal. Jason Miller again was at the heart of the play and crossed for an unmarked Paul Tanton to sweep home after he had once again beaten the left back with ease, 4-0 Farnborough.

The ref blew for full time and Farnborough ran out well-deserved winners against a good team who for up to 50 minutes seemed impregnable but fair play to Farnborough as they continued to push forward and create opportunity after opportunity. There wasn’t any moaning today or slapping of the floor and nobody got on the ref\'s back, it was a joy to play in but more importantly it was a real joy to watch.

Next week we are at home again and this time around we play Crofton Albion, we have now scored 15 goals and only conceded the one in the last 3 games, hopefully we can add to that impressive record.