Day laments ‘fluke’ goals after defeat

FARNBOROUGH MISS OUT ON THE ROAD

SPENCER DAY was left to reflect on the importance of taking goalscoring chances after his Farnborough side lost 4-0 on the road at Taunton Town in the National League South on Saturday.

The Boro boss was able to welcome back midfielders Reggie Young and Taylor Maloney (both from suspension) and defender Jack Ball (injury) into the squad, but were without striker Michael Folivi and left-back Jordan Norville-Williams.

Fellow mid-table outfit Taunton Town were playing their first game of the month, but it took them just five minutes to open the scoring.

Farnborough failed to clear their lines from recycled Lloyd James delivery and the ball fell to home midfielder Ollie Chamberlain on the edge of the box who curled a beautiful left-footed strike into the net.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 39 minutes. A James chip from well outside the box caught Jack Turner off guard, as the ball looped over the Boro goalkeeper in slow motion fashion.

It was three on the hour mark when a Taunton Town attack ended with Chamberlain’s strike being turned into the net by the unmarked Ross Stearn.

Farnborough managed to go until the 85th minute without conceding again, but it was home substitute Cameron Evans who was allowed to tap in Ross Stearn’s cross from close range to compound Boro’s misery.

“Firstly, congratulations to Taunton. It’s a funny 4-0 game,” Day said.

“The scoreline doesn’t lie. Goals change games. Both ends of the pitch are where games are won and lost.

“I think we’ve counted [that] we’ve had 17 attempts on goal. I think they’ve had about seven and scored four. Goals at key moments change games.

“The pitch was atrocious, but congratulations to them for getting it on. This pitch as not playable, but don’t get me wrong, we wanted to play. It’s the same for both teams.

“My big issue was the wind was horrific. We lost the toss so the first half was so difficult.

“We could have been 3-0 down in the first ten minutes.

“We didn’t win any physical battles. After that, we’ve been by far the better side. We’ve hit the post, their keeper has made two fantastic saves, we’ve hit one straight over the bar.

“When things aren’t going your way... they score a complete fluke, which is a foul on our lad beforehand.

“The referee, who has had generally a good game, has made a mistake.

“It’s a complete fluke, loops over Jack and suddenly you’re 2-0 down. I think we should have been leading at half-time on chances.

“In the second half, we’ve got the wind and it’s total dominance from us, as you would expect.

“Ten or 15 minutes in, the first time they’re in our box, we don’t defend properly, you’re 3-0 down and the game is over.

“Again, is it a fluke? It’s bizarre. It’s the first time they’ve got in our box.

“Their keeper is making saves, but we’ve not been ruthless enough.

“We’ve missed a header from five yards out, their keeper’s made double the amount of saves as Jack Turner.

“Defensively, we’re all over the place at the minute and don’t look like scoring. It’s not good enough.”