Boro out to arrest the slide after Police raid
Met Police .................... 3 Farnborough FC........... 0
ASSISTANT manager Leigh Dynan has urged fans not to panic after patched-up Farnborough were handed a pre-season wake-up call by Met Police on Tuesday night.
With boss Spencer Day on holiday, Dynan led a mixed side of first-teamers and trialists to Imber Court looking to add extra cohesion to the ranks ahead of the big season kick-off in a little over a fortnight’s time.
Instead, they had no answer to the Ryman Premier outfit, who ruthlessly dished out a harsh reality check to concerned Boro fans about the perils of working with a playing budget described as “almost non-existent” by the boss himself just a couple of weeks ago.
But, despite the result and a somewhat disjointed performance, Dynan insists Boro remain on track and is backing his troops to show further progression when the make the trip to Biggleswade Town on Saturday.
“It’s pre-season, it’s not about results,” Dynan said. “It's about taking a look at these players, different combinations and getting minutes in the legs.
“Of course, it’s hard with the budget we have to work with but I’m encouraged with what we’ve seen so far. It’ll be hard this season, we know that, but I’m a positive person and I think we’ll be just fine. We have some good players here.”
Undoubtedly one of the biggest positives of the night was the emergence of trialist Shamir Mullings, who was clearly Farnborough’s most promising performer on view and came closest to breaching the Met Police line.
Mullings, 20, is a pacy winger/striker who was nurtured from the Southend United production line and has served loan spells with Bromley and Thamesmead Town. He could be the next to agree a permanent deal at Cherrywood Road with Dynan adding: “I like him, he’s young, strong and full of energy. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have worked with him and when the gaffer comes back we’ll definitely be talking to him.”
Others still in the management’s thoughts are ex-Reading midfielder Josh Webb, former Aylesbury utility man Jack Waldren, ex-Mansfield and Kidderminster midfielder Curtis Shaw and goalkeeper Charlie Granger, who is expected to agree a seasonlong loan from Leyton Orient this week after impressing in the last two friendlies.
Dynan says the door has also been left open for former Hayes & Yeading defendercum-striker Geoff Mitchell, with the Brazilian quartet of Nelson Celestino, Andre Marques, Lucas Marquez and wonderkid Enrique – who became an internet sensation with a 60-yard wondergoal against Oxford United a fortnight ago – also in the hunt for permanent deals provided they can secure accommodation in the area.
“It’s coming together nicely,” Dynan said. “There’s a lot of players to talk to but we know our targets and I’m expecting another couple to be signed in the next few days when the gaffer gets back.”
Two goals in the final five minutes from Ryan James and ex-Aldershot loanee Charlie Collins put a somewhat flattering slant on Met Police's victory after left-back Michael Gutteridge had given them a first-half lead.
Mullings and Matt Ball went closest for Farnborough, who now take on Southern Premier side Biggleswade on Saturday before making to trip to Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night.
BORO: Granger; Rodgers, Waldren, Enrique, Siaw, Ferrell, Shaw, Ball, Taylor, Page, Mullings. Subs (from): Celestino, Benjamin, Debayo, Webb, Hill A Marques, L Marques.