Match Report

On a warm and sunny April 1st morning at ‘Farrow Fields’ Farnborough Young Vets were playing host to Farleigh Vets. A match that had been smartly arranged by the “quick thinking” management (and Simon Davies) due to the demise of one of the better teams Lloyds Golden Oldies. We had been aware of Lloyd’s situation since last year whereas last week\'s opposition Orpington Rovers kindly notified us no less than 24 hours before kick off that they had also folded!

Today also saw the eagerly and most anticipated introduction of one Farnborough’s brightest stars of the future, no I’m not referring to one of the Youth team players, you know the type all Justin Beiber haircuts and last seen poking a twitter or following a facebook as it were. No I am referring to the brand new Young Vets kit that was making its debut and I’m sure with a few alterations it’ll fit the squad nicely soon, either that or we will need to start cooking with lard from now on!

Farnborough lined up as follows

Gary Rosslee, GK
Danny Saines, LB
Rowan Foggitt, CB
Paul Brett, CB
Simon Hunt, RB
Matt Wright, LM
Neil Connelly, CM
Jim St John, CM
Jason Miller, RM
Simon Davies, CF
Pete Harvey, CF

Subs,
Richard Davies
Paul Tanton

Farleigh whom according to their website reads \"We are Farleigh Vets football club, known around Europe as the \'unbeatable\'\" were in fact beatable but they did provide us with an entertaining game for the neutral and the 7 random people in attendance were treated to 9 goals all from different scorers which is unusual as well.

Farnborough had the ball in the net after 5 minutes but the goal was chalked off after Matt Wright had just strayed a yard or two offside but the early passages of play were dictated by Farnborough but the opening goal would not come for them. As we all know football can be a cruel mistress and as sure as eggs are eggs for all of Farnborough’s chances it was the visitors who took the lead. A routine ball over the top down the left hand channel saw Danny Saines caught out flat footed and he allowed his man to home in on goal, although the Farleigh winger still appeared to have a lot to do with the angle seemingly against him he managed to find the back of the net and maybe Rosslee could have done better after getting a hand to the shot, 0-1 Farleigh Vets.

Farnborough continued to pen Farleigh in their own half and it was Rowan ‘Kaiser’ Foggitt who drew the home team level with a bursting run into the penalty area and a clever one-two with the keeper, well the keeper saved the first effort but the rebound fell nicely back to Rowan and he scored from an acute angle, 1-1. With half time now approaching Farnborough managed to add a second, and it was Simon Davies who was on hand to side foot home after the ball was played into him expertly by Pete Harvey, 2-1 Farnborough. The funny thing is Simon was clearly heard saying how tired he felt (I have chosen not to describe how he actually described how he was feeling in order not to offend people) prior to scoring, but the management resisted the temptation to introduce fresh legs and again it goes to show how Paul Tanton is being talked about in the same breath as Brendan Rogers at Swansalona!

Half time 2-1 to Farnborough.

The break saw Simon get his well deserved rest and saw the introduction of Paul Tanton up front and Richard Davies at right back, Danny Saines making way for the former. With Danny now watching from the sidelines, he witnessed the dreaded curse of the left back with his own eyes as Simon Hunt was caught out as he failed to clear what seemed an innocuous ball although in Simon’s defence Rosslee may have not helped the situation and the pair were left with egg on their face as the Farleigh attacker shot across goal to make the scores level again, 2-2.

Neil Connelly restored Farnborough\'s lead with the cleanest of strikes from outside the box when the ball appeared to take an eternity to drop down to him, nevertheless he took his goal very well and left the Farleigh keeper with no chance at all, 3-2 Farnborough. Matt Wright then helped himself with a goal after he picked up the ball some 40 yards out on the left and put his head down and beat several players before calmly placing the ball low down at the keeper\'s near post from a few yards out, 4-2 Farnborough. The two payers who kindly bought the new kit both got on the scoresheet today, Jim St John with a trademark header (trademark being he netted 1 out of 6 attempts) and Jason Miller beat the goalkeeper at his near post from the tightest of angles, as part of the goalkeepers\' union may I add the goalkeeper was probably expecting a cross and that is what it was, sorry Miller. These 2 goals sandwiched an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box at the opposite end. With the Farleigh player\'s back to goal he swivelled and unleashed a drive into the top corner that Rosslee failed to keep out. The final score ended up Farnborough 6, Farleigh 3, but for some good saves from the visiting #1 the score could have been greater for the OBG’s. Farleigh would have been happy with their OPTA stats, shots 3, on target 3, goals 3!!

MOM was Pete ‘Don’t call me Torres’ Harvey who as of late has been sporting a beard, apparently it is for one of his leading roles at the local theatre, others closer to the player claim he has vowed not to shave until he scores his next goal, I must add at this rate he is going to end up looking like the guitarist from ZZ Top! With that said Pete Harvey seemed to cover every blade of grass today, and if ever there was a goal deserved for work rate then Pete should have had at least a couple, at least then he could have a shave!