Match Report

Failure to prepare, prepare to fail!

Now I don’t want to sound like the voice of doom and gloom but if you look at the majority of the Club (as a whole) results this season whether it be the various Saturday teams or the Sunday XI or the two respective Vets teams it certainly has been an indifferent start to the season so far compared to years gone by.

Who said “Failure to prepare, prepare to fail”? To be honest I don’t give a rats ar*e but I know it used to be etched on the wall on the wall up high on the home changing room wall alongside other famous inspirational quotes and words of wisdom however it would appear that every ounce of motivation and determination and commitment seems to have been sucked out Farrow Fields completely.

I appreciate the great late Vic Farrow is no longer with us and yes we all probably took for granted the work he did but I have to admit that I am personally embarrassed at the attitude of the Farnborough Young Vets squad over the past month or so. You are talking about squad of 20 odd players who are all of a reasonable standard and Ben Clunn who should be grateful to get out on a Sunday morning away form the “trouble & strife” and the kids for a couple of hours and have a bit of me time!

In games of late the lack of cooperation and I stress cooperation and not organisation have been our downfall before we have even kicked a ball and I honestly believe this is why we have yet to properly turn up this season and fulfil the potential we have as a team in our fifth year of existence.

Today was another prime example where a collection of things needed to be done in order for the match to go ahead, goals needed to be wheeled out, nets had to be put up, the pitch had to be spiked due to the torrential downfall that morning and match football had to be collected and brought up from the clubhouse; this on top of people needing to speak to the opposition in the week to confirm the game was actually going ahead (still can’t work out why last week’s was off).

It didn’t help today that our opposition Sanco Vets were not only late but also didn’t have enough players, so we kindly let them have one of our players but what was even more puzzling was the fact we gave them our top goal scorer and midfield talisman Jim St John?

Farnborough lined up as follows:





G. Rosslee ©

B. Cheesman A. Cobham P. Bailey M. Friend

P. Tanton Daragh Nott D. Wyatt Matt Wright

J. Delaney B. Grainger

Subs

B. Clunn
S. Davies
J. St John (Played for Sanco first half)

We clearly were not at the races from the opening whistle as John Delaney lost the coin toss which was another example of a lack of organisation throughout the team as the responsibility should have laid with Rosslee but what was funnier was the ref then refused to allow John to change his decision having won the toss which left Farnborough having to kick in to the brightest sunshine yours truly had ever seen on an October morning!! Sanco looked the hungrier team and there was no surprise that St John was involved in the majority of their play just as he is normally for Farnborough and they had a few decent chances to break the deadlock with St John coming the closed firing over form yards at with the goal at his mercy from a corner.

Somehow Farnborough weathered the storm and took an unsurprising lead of their own through John Delany after some tireless work from Daragh Nott (who would not make the second half) 1-0 OBG’s.

Sanco fashioned a few more decent chances one fierce effort that Rosslee had to get down to his right hand side to parry away and then complete Farnborough disarray allowed St John to run in on goal against Rosslee just outside the area but thankfully Rosslee had advanced far enough out to tackle him on the edge of the box and the danger was cleared. Farnborough did not treat this as a wake up call and soon were undone as St John charged 20 yards with the ball like an orange Yaya Toure and he lay off the ball to the centre forward who rang in on goal and coolly slotted past Rosslee, 1-1.

The ref blew for half time and after more panic and disorganisation throughout the Farnborough team, the restart saw St John don the red and yellow kit of the Guild as we now decided to give them the fittest player on the pitch, step forward Daragh Nott.!!

Less than 5 minutes were on the clock when Andy Cobham was adjudged to have fouled the Sanco forward in the Farnborough penalty area as referee Andy Gable pointed to the spot to award a penalty, Rosslee was sent the wrong way as Sanco now took the lead 1-2, Sanco.

Farnborough managed to muster a few chances to equalise with Barry Grainger forcing the Sanco keeper into an eventual simple save when he was put through one on one, a chance that Barry would normally put away with his eyes closed and then St John had header smartly saved from a corner, with the keeper doing well to get across the goal to tip the ball around the post, on top of that Rosslee had to be alert from a snapped effort on the edge of the box and tip the ball away for a corner.

By now Si Davies had replaced the injured Barry Grainger however our match reporter also had to vacate the premises so the rest of the game was unknown all I know is that Sanco added a third past Matt Wright who had deputised for Rosslee in the OBG’s goal and Ben Clunge (well he plays like one) missed an absolute sitter from yards out in front of an open goal after Si Davies had committed the keeper and squared unselfishly.

The ref blew for full time and Farnborough lost their second home game of the season in 2 games.

Next week we are at Home to Ditton (not away) so hopefully ‘Dittonitus’ wont strike again!!

We seriously need to improve as a team both on and off the pitch if this season is one to enjoy!

Man of the match: John Delany

Moan of the match: Now over.