Back-to-back double sends Farnborough top
FARNBOROUGH moved top of the Southern League Premier South table with victories over Kings Langley and Gosport Borough.
Farnborough took advantage of fellow league rivals being involved in FA Cup action last weekend and moved to the top of table after a 4-1 victory over Kings Langley.
Spencer Day’s side also beat Gosport Borough 3-1 in the rain in midweek, to collect maximum points from back-to-back home games.
A sensational Paul Hodges hattrick saw Farnborough come from a goal down to win last Tuesday evening, in a second-versus-third battle at the Easy As HGV Stadium.
Gosport Borough took a 24th minute lead through Rory Williams’ close range finish, but an equaliser arrived ten minutes later as Hodges’ shot from outside the box deflected into the net.
The turnaround was complete on 53 minutes when Hodges successfully tucked away a penalty, after striker Josh Fawole was brought down by goalkeeper Albert White.
Hodges saved his best goal until last. The attacking midfielder was first to a short clearance outside the box and cleverly lifted a strike over the goalkeeper and into the net to complete his hat-trick.
Farnborough remained in goalscoring mood for the visit of Kings Langley on Saturday afternoon, and were instantly boosted straight from kick-off when visiting goalkeeper
Alfie Marriott was dismissed after just 46 seconds for handling the ball outside the box.
Without a back-up goalkeeper, Kings Langley left-back Kyle Connolly donned the gloves for the full 90 minutes.
Farnborough winger Reggie Young was injured in the midweek victory, he was replaced in the starting line-up by debutant Elis Watts, who joined on loan from Aldershot Town.
Elis Watts quickly called stand-in goalkeeper Connolly into action with a rasping left-footed drive on nine minutes that he had to push wide. On 23 minutes Farnborough broke the deadlock as Kings Langley centre-back Jorell Johnson turned Alfie Saunders’ low cross into his own net.
The advantage was doubled after 37 minutes as Elis Watts skipped away from two challenges in midfield and his shot from distance was too powerful for Connolly to keep out.
To their credit, the ten men of Kings Langley kept fighting and got their reward two minutes after halftime as striker Harrison Crawford slotted home after a scramble inside the box.
Farnborough restored the twogoal advantage on 64 minutes after the referee pointed to the spot when Kings Langley captain Roderick Collins handled an Elis Watts’ inswinging corner.
Hodges made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick to bag his ninth league goal of the season.
The game was wrapped up on 78 minutes, with Elliott Buchanan’s low volley from just inside the box finding the net to send Farnborough to the summit of the league.
This Saturday, October 23, Farnborough make the trip down to Dorchester Town. Kick-off 3pm.