Match Report

Toby Vets provide stiffer opposition second time around.

Today’s home match saw conditions somewhat of a safer nature than the previous weeks fixture in which Farnborough suffered only their second defeat of the season at the hands of Peckham Rye Vets on the temporary ice skating rink that had been assembled at Kent County Cricket Club! Today’s opposition were Toby Vets a team we had defeated away from home only a few weeks previously, on Remembrance Sunday to be precise in a match that was very much one sided as we ran out 0-6 winners and secured our first clean sheet of the season, so hopefully another convincing win would be on the cards and hopefully our second clean sheet to date.

With the temperature being at it’s lowest that I can remember and the wind as strong as it’s been this year at Farrow Fields Farnborough lined up as follows.

GK, Gary Rosslee
LB, Neil Connelly
CB, Andy Cobham
CB, Brett Cheesman
RB, Paul Bailey
LM, Ben Clunn
CM, Daragh Nott
CM, Matt Wright
RM, Jason Miller
CF, Barry Grainger
CF, Paul Tanton

Subs:
Jerry Cogotti
Mark Friend
Dean Wyatt

Farnborough kicked in to the strong wind for the first half, a decision that had Neil Connelly scowling at Captain Rosslee only to then be told that the oppo had actually won the toss and with the wind behind them Toby Vets played the ball around comfortably as the new Farnborough central midfield duo of Matt Wright and Daragh Nott tried to get a stranglehold on the game. Andy Cobham and Brett Cheesman playing together for the first time at the heart of the Farnborough defence looked like they had played together for several years as they dealt with everything Toby could muster up and throw at them with excellent positional play and composure.

Farnborough drew the first save of the match from the Toby goalkeeper with a decent enough chance in which Paul Tanton and Barry Grainger linked up well inside the penalty area but Grainger’s first time low shot didn’t have enough behind it to seriously trouble the Toby keeper as he was able to get down to his left and comfortably save the shot. Toby then drew the first save from the Farnborough keeper as they played a clever one two on the edge of the box that saw an effort theatrically turned over by the bar by Rosslee.

Farnborough eventually took the lead from one of their most unlikely sources (no not Paul Tanton) a Barry Grainger free kick was floated into the box where it hung in the air for what seemed like minutes and was eventually met by one of the most unconvincing headers you have probably ever seen. Daragh Nott guided the ball more vertically then goal wards with his strawberry blonde 50 pence shaped head and the ball somehow fell into to the goal to leave the Toby Vets somewhat bemused but not as amused as his own team mates, this was Daragh’s first goal of the new season but his second of the year, his last goal coming on January 29th in a 2-0 victory over Crofton Albion. 1-0 OBG’s.

As Toby pressed for an equaliser Paul Bailey was caught out for a split second as his man managed to turn him on the edge of the 6 yard box but Rosslee had the presence of mind to charge from his line and save at the feet of the forward taking out both Paul Bailey and the Toby striker at the same for his troubles and the ball was cleared to safety. The referee blew for half time and that ended a rather dull opening 45 minutes, 1- OBG’s Half Time.

The second half should have been an easier affair for Farnborough having come through the first half against the winds and a goal to the good but with a change in personnel at the back in order to give everybody a fair run out the dimensions and dynamics of the team changed and we were not as comfortable at the back and our football there on lacked any fluidity or cutting edge. Barry Grainger had a couple of wild efforts that were watched safely over the bar by the Toby goalkeeper and then Toby hit us with a sucker punch goal. The centre forward who had been kept quiet all game by Andy Cobham somehow found a yard of space after he seemed to have run the ball into three Farnborough players but he managed to muster a left foot effort that caught Rosslee flat footed and found the top corner, 1-1.

With time ticking away Farnborough went searching for their second of the match and Paul Bailey was unlucky with a free header from a corner but the ball fizzed a foot or two over the bar and then Barry Grainger had an excellent chance to restore Farnborough’s lead as he danced through a couple of tackles and found himself one on one with the goalkeeper but the angle got the better of him as he could only shoot straight into the keeper’s midriff with Ben Clunn screaming for the ball unmarked in the 6 yard box. With 10 minutes left Barry did set up Ben Clunn for his first goal in Farnborough colours albeit in a fortuitous fashion. Again Barry Grainger found himself in acres of space in the Toby 18 yard box and as he shaped to curl the ball beyond the keeper his effort was spilled by the Toby stopper and the ball fell nicely to Ben who made no doubt about the rebound to smash the ball high into the net!

Farnborough weathered the storm for the final 10 minutes and ran out 2-1 winners; I’m not sure about the worthy winners but winner all the less. Toby put up a better display than that of a few weeks back and really pushed us today. Next week we are away to Santos however looking at current state of the pitch due to the frost I doubt it will be on but you never know, but more importantly it’s the Christmas p*ss up this Sunday for the Young Vets!

Shot of the match: The Toby centre forward’s equaliser

Save of the match: Rosslee’s first half brave Schmeichelesque save

Man of the match: 3 ways between Andy Cobham, Daragh Nott & Matt Wright

Moan of the match: The prospect of no match this Sunday