Match Report

We must have been hoping to use today’s game against Santos Vets as a springboard to kick start what has been a topsy-turvy season for us to date, but alas that would not materialise. Now I mean no disrespect to Santos whatsoever but in the 4 previous games against them we have put 9, 6, 11 and 12 goals past them respectively so on average a whopping 9.5 goals per game so today’s away match down at the Beaverwood Club in Chislehurst should have acted as a real tonic and morale booster to us given some of our poor form as of late but Santos to their credit kept us at bay for long periods down to their own personal desire and personal battles on the pitch.

Farnborough still missing several bodies lined up as follows:

G. Rosslee ©

R. Davies M. Wright M. Ellis C. Rawley

B. Clunn D. Wyatt St. John L. Boyce

S. Davies B. Grainger

Subs

Paul Tanton

Making his OBG debut in left midfield was Leon Boyce whom gaffer Paul Tanton went on to remark \"He’s as mad as a ship’s cat\" and if only we could have transferred some of his energy and enthusiasm into some of the other 10 bodies and minds I think we could have easily have run riot today. The game started off a pretty cagey affair with neither team asking questions in the opening 15 minutes (I do not recall either defence or keeper stretched into any real action) but with that said it was the home team who took the lead through a very scrappy goal indeed. Matt Wright was adjudged to have fouled a Santos player out wide half way between the goal line and 18 yard box thus conceding a direct free kick. The ball was whipped into the danger area on the 6 yard box where no Farnborough or Santos player was able to make a connection on the ball and the ball somehow nestled into the Farnborough goal with Rosslee completely unsighted and helpless, 1-0 Santos.

A dour 20 minutes ensued for both teams before Farnborough managed to muster an effort on goal and it was that man again Jim St John who was on hand to head home from a dead ball Matt Ellis free kick some 40 yards out, the Santos defender trying his hardest to keep the effort from going over the line but could only smash the ball into the roof of the net, but the dubious goal panel needn\'t feel like contesting as the ball had clearly crossed the line, 1-1 and the ref blew for half time as Paul Tanton replaced Leon in left midfield.

It didn\'t take the visitors too long to edge in front moments after the restart which must have hurt Santos deeply as Barry Grainger beat the offside trap with ease and still had the presence of mind to lift the ball over the onrushing Santos keeper and into the empty net, 1-2 OBG’s. I do not recall Santos having a single registered effort on the Farnborough goal for the entire second half. However Farnborough maybe could have added to their tally, Richard Davies watching 2 efforts saved by the Santos stopper most notably from a free kick some 20/25 yards out after Barry Grainger had been brought down. Leon Boyce who had re-entered the fray for Ben Clunn on the right hand side saw his header hit the side netting to keep the difference to one goal and it looked like it might stay that way until Barry netted his 2nd of the match and his 12th goal of the season. Again Barry was the quickest to react to a well worked through ball and his finish was emphatic as he deftly lifted the ball over the sprawled out keeper to make the scores 1-3 to the OBG’s.

The rest of the game was played out in good spirits without a single malicious tackle as both teams showed each other the best of sporting behaviour as the ref blew for full time. So there you had it Farnborough ran out 1-3 winners but I think that Santos must have felt like they had won this game today given the constant drubbings thy had sustained at the hands of us over the past few years.

MOM was joint with 3 votes each, Barry Grainger and Richard Davies.

Next week away to Wellcome Vets in Beckenham at Beckenham Cricket club Foxgrove Road, where I noticed our senior vet’s team are also playing against Welcome Super Vets so this will be quite interesting, especially if they are as fast around the buffet as I have read on recent reports, I can see Richard Davies maybe going for an “early bath”.