Match Report

A very pleasing end to a long hard season. A second away win in 8 days against another team we always struggle to beat. Definitely a very happy April.

We had to make several changes from the game before due to availability. We started slowly, not getting out of our half for the first ten minutes.

We went behind due to a quickly taken free kick but as the half wore on started to create some chances ourselves with Barry and Adam going close. My biggest moan of the first half was that we tended to play ourselves into trouble a bit too much, and didn''t pass and move like we did the week before. The game looked a typical end of season, nothing to play for type.

At half-time and 1 nil down we were definitely not out of it but needed to get the ball down and find Ray and Jason in wide positions a bit more. As soon as this started to happen we looked a different side. The second half we started much better, pressing Goldsmiths higher up the pitch, our passing improved dramatically and we were now looking the better side. Barry scored a diving header from the near post corner which I''ve been talking about doing for at least 4 years (probably longer, but nobody ever listens!!!). Barry was delighted due to Jason''s half-time champagne offer.

Despite looking the better side we fell behind again due to a lapse in concentration on the edge of our area. At 2 -1 up Goldsmiths started to show their class, but with about 20 minutes left Barry set Adam Dawson free down the left, Dawson ignored Barry''s calls for a return pass and instead decided to tie the centre-half and goalkeeper up in knots and when they both eventually fell over he passed the ball into the empty net. The management duo gave it some serious high fives. The team grew in confidence again and with a couple of minutes to go Barry again played in Adam who calmly curled in a shot from the edge of the area (even bigger high five from the management duo). Goldsmiths wouldn''t give up and went close another couple of times but we held out for a well earned 3 points.

Since Christmas we have definitely cut down conceding stupid goals and we only lost once in the league to very good Milldean side, our biggest problem is that we drew too many games. I hope everyone realises what a quality standard of football it is and every player should remember that Farnborough finished 7th in the top division and only twice in the club history have we finished higher and this is in a quality standard of football, against some very good teams. I''d like to think this is a positive sign that the team is improving, perhaps I was a bit too optimistic when I thought we would challenge, however with another couple of younger additions to the squad and retaining all our players I can''t see why we can''t have a good go next year. On that subject if anyone knows any quality players either give me their details or get them down pre-season training in July.

I do need a bit more commitment from a few people (you know who you are) as sometimes running a side on a Sunday morning can be a demoralising job especially when things are not going our way. If you don''t want to play at least have the guts to tell me.

I nearly forgot to mention what a great night we had on Sunday. Perhaps a win against Goldsmiths is the perfect way to finish the season.

When work dies down a bit I''m hopefully going to do player by player analysis of the season.