Title race goes down to wire
FARNBOROUGH IN A THREE-WAY BATTLE TO FINISH TOP OF THE TABLE
THE Southern League Premier South title race will go down to the wire, with just a couple of points separating the top three of Taunton Town, Hayes & Yeading United and Farnborough.
A busy Easter weekend saw Boro travel to north London to take on mid-table Hendon on the 3G pitch at Silver Jubilee Park.
The game was won by a moment of magic in the 27th minute as Paul Hodges turned home Michael Fernandes’ cross from the right.
A big blow, however, arrived just two minutes into the second half when winger Michael Fernandes was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident with Hendon’s Sam Corcoran.
Aside from two scares later in the second half – a ball flashed across the face of the goal and a superb back-post save from goalkeeper Jack Turner, 10-men Farnborough saw the game out with a clean sheet and three vital points.
A second game in three days was just around the corner as Farnborough hosted neighbours Hartley Wintney in a Hampshire derby on Easter Monday.
Ten minutes into the game, the Farnborough defence allowed a long throw-in from Aaron Goode to bounce in the box and Sam Argent’s resulting overhead kick was kept out well by Jack Turner with a low save.
The continued slow start allowed Hartley Wintney to cause Boro problems and the visitors had the ball in the net on 13 minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Jack Turner tipped Kyen Nicholas’ strike onto the post and the rebound was slid in by Adam Allen, but the offside flag was raised.
Farnborough started to wake up and had a goal to show for it on 36 minutes. Clever movement from striker Mitchell Parker created space for himself to latch onto Mitch Brundle’s ball over the top and the former Hartley Wintney striker turned Toby Nevile inside out before firing low into the far corner.
On the hour mark, Jack Turner was called into action once again with a strong hand to keep out Sam Argent’s header from Josh Webb’s inswinging cross.
Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by referee Jack Oxenham, after Boro winger Selim Saied and Hartley Wintney substitute Lucias Vine took tumbles in both boxes.
However, Farnborough were awarded a penalty of their own on 88 minutes when Farnborough substitute Reggie Young was fouled by Aaron Goode inside the box.
Mitchell Parker stepped up and sent goalkeeper Thomas Williams the wrong way from the spot to ensure Boro completed the league double over their Hampshire counterparts.
A season high home attendance of 934 witnessed Farnborough record a 26th win in the league, ahead of a significant showdown on Saturday April 23 to decide the Champions.
Boro head to league leaders Taunton Town this weekend, knowing a result either way will have an impact on who takes the title.
Heading into the final day, Taunton Town are the table toppers on 88 points with +40 goal difference.
Hayes & Yeading United occupy second place with 85 points and +61. Farnborough sit on 85 points and a +30 goal difference.
Manager Spencer Day said: “We can only do what we can do. We’ve still got the equal amount of wins in the division and it could come down to goal difference.
“I thought first half, Hartley
Wintney, they were vastly better than us. I thought we were very lucky to be one up at half time. I thought we had so many people off it.
“Second half I thought we edged that. I thought we were the better side second half. We changed the system 30 minutes into the game.
“They had a small patch with a couple of saves, but after that I think we were better than them just in the second half.
“I thought Hartley Wintney put on a hell of a shout. We weren’t particularly on it.
“We have players that did look tired. Second half we stepped it up and were better. We got away with it – we know we can play a lot better. I think worse case we’ve guaranteed ourselves a home game in the playoffs, which is important.
“I think we’ll probably say at the moment it looks like it’s going to be Met Police again. 85 points - it’s very, very tight. It looks like it’s going to the last day.
“Realistically, goal difference will count against us, but if it is to be that we’ve got the excitement of the playoffs. We need everyone behind us, we’ve had a fantastic season, but at the end of the day, there was a great attendance here and we’ve won the game.”