Day ‘ecstatic’ as Kuhl and Bradley earn Boro victory
SPENCER Day declared himself “absolutely delighted” after Farnborough beat Dartford 2-1 at home in the National League South on Saturday.
Finally back at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium for the first time in over a month, Farnborough took on Dartford in a big game for both sides in the bottom half of the table.
After a tight and goalless first half, Boro were handed the opportunity to open the scoring just three minutes after the interval when Olly Pendlebury was tripped by Dartford defender Jordan Wynter inside the box. It was midfielder Aaron Kuhl who powerfully dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom left-hand corner – his fifth goal since joining on loan last October.
The visitors responded immediately, capitalising on a quick turnover in possession as lively Darts winger Fumnaya Shomotun crossed the ball for the unmarked Tyrell Miller-Rodney to divert into the net.
A glorious opportunity almost saw the Yellows regain the lead when defender Sid Nelson rose high to connect with Pendlebury’s out-swinging corner, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Farnborough edged back in front on 78 minutes when visiting goalkeeper Billy Terrell made a mess of Jordan Norville-Williams’ left-wing cross. Reggie Young was on hand to volley the loose ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, with former Dartford striker Harvey Bradley seemingly having the last touch of the ball.
Three much-needed points lifts Boro up to 15th place, with games in hand on some of the teams above them.
“I’m ecstatic!” Day said. “What a fantastic week for the club, both on and off the pitch. It’s difficult when you’ve lost four games and as I said, too much has been said about it. We’ve lost the last three games 2-1 and arguably we could have won all three games, certainly the last two.
“I thought we were the better side in the first half. We had the best chance of the first half when Hish [Kasimu] was clean through and we edged the game, but we were tentative.
“Our passing wasn’t great, it was a poor standard game, the first half in particular. Two nervous sides and that’s what happens.
“No one wants to lose football games. We’ve tried to breed confidence into our lads. Our home form is excellent – I think we’ve only lost twice at home all season.
“So, we needed to be positive and as I said, we’ve been very competitive in the other games.
“I thought we started the second half very bright, but I’m fuming about the equaliser.
“Literally the first time again they get in our box. Our heads could go, but we were the better side. You saw, when things aren’t quite going your way and we head the ball and it hits the bar and post at the same time, we have a four on two overlap and we don’t score, this is what happens when players are a little bit down and lacking confidence.
“Fantastic we could get the win; we thoroughly deserved it. Jack Turner has done nothing except that one save at the end there. I’m just delighted, in front of our fans, we got what we deserved. Hopefully it takes a little bit of the monkey off our back.
“The club’s had amazingly good news and we wanted to back it up on the pitch.
“We’re not a bad side, we’ve been very close. We’ve been on the wrong side of some very tight away games. We’ve got a lot of niggles. Ollie Robinson wasn’t available today and nor was Guy Hollis. Hish and Harvey and Hady are all coming back from injury. I’m absolutely delighted we deservedly got the win.”
This Saturday, Farnborough head to Weston-super-Mare, kick-off 3pm.
FLEET Town have announced they will be offering pan-disability football training sessions for five to 15-year-olds on Thursday evenings in the sports hall at Calthorpe Park School, Fleet. Pan-disability football gives opportunities to anyone with any form of disability or specialeducation need, to play football in a safe and fun environment. Fleet Town’s FA qualified coaches will lead the sessions that will concentrate on fun, development, co-ordination, team-work and football skills. To get involved in Fleet’s pan-disability football sessions or for more information, contact stars@fleettowncolts.com or call David Marlow on 07866 916078