‘Ruthless’ league leaders show Boro why they are best
AFTER a monumental effort by ground staff and volunteers, the Farnborough pitch was able to overcome the challenges of the weather and welcome champions-elect Yeovil Town for a National League South clash on Saturday.
The weekend could not have presented a more difficult set of challenges for the visit of the runaway league leaders with Boro losing inform striker Hady Ghandour after his parent club Aldershot Town exercised a recall clause in his loan deal, not to mention an exhausting midweek draw at home to secondplace Chelmsford City. Player-coach and captain CJ Fearn was also ruled out for the hosts through injury.
Yet, a season-high crowd of 1,880 packed into the Saunders Transport Community Stadium and witnessed four goals.
The opener arrived on 13 minutes when Yeovil Town striker Sam Pearson was allowed time to pick out team-mate Sonny Blu Lo-Everton who flicked the ball into the net from inside the box when one-on-one with Jack Turner.
Just before the hour mark, the visitors punished Boro after a mix-up from a throw-in and the energetic Pearson put the ball on a plate for the onrushing Alex Fisher who was able to slide his effort home after the cross took a slight deflection off Reggie Young.
A minute the other side of an hour and Farnborough gave themselves a lifeline. Guy Hollis’ long throw into the box was flicked on by Jack Ball, allowing Olly Pendlebury to take one touch and leather his shot into the roof of the net.
After some strong pressure from the home side though, the Glovers put the game to bed on 85 minutes.
A long kick from goalkeeper Joe Day was not dealt with by the Boro defence and substitute Jordan Stevens was able to hook the ball back for left-back Alex Whittle to fire home at the second time of asking.
Farnborough manager Spencer Day, said: “In a lot of ways, there were similarities to the away game. I thought we had moments, quite a few of them actually.
“We started the first half really well, I thought we were very bright in the first 10 minutes. We pin them back and the first time they get near our box, they score. We don’t track the runner; good finish.
“The rest of the half, there wasn’t much in it. Hish [Kasimu] got round the keeper and their defender makes a covering tackle.
“You always felt Yeovil could go up a gear, if I’m being honest. Jack [Turner, goalkeeper] makes one good save. We come in probably a bit undeserved to be one down. Really tough on everyone.
“I cannot praise the ground staff and the volunteers who helped them enough. To get this game on was a footballing miracle.
“Second half; unfortunately if you give those two goals away, you’re not going to win football matches, never mind against the best team in the league. We give away an absolute shocker of a second goal.
“You’re probably thinking it’s game over and we get one back, and I thought then we had a real go at them for 20 minutes.
“We had the move of the match where we really opened them up and it’s hit our lad as we’re trying to put the ball in the back of the net.
“There were lots to be really proud of. We tried to pass the ball. We’re playing the best team in the league by a mile here. They’re going to win it by 20-odd points, many congratulations to them.
“We got it back to 2-1, we’re having a go and then we go and commit another football suicide and it’s all over. Was it a 3-1 game? Probably not. You can see the reason they’re running away with the league; they get into our box, they score. We huffed, we puffed and we gave it a really good go on a really heavy, tiring pitch. We’ve left a lot out there.
“You’ve also got to give credit to Yeovil, they defended really well. When they’ve got in our box, they’ve been ruthless.
“It’s great to see the stadium as it was. Fabulous attendance. I’m going home thoroughly disappointed because for the second time we’ve really pushed them but still come up short. We need to learn those lessons if we’re to progress.”
The Yellows were due to host Welling United last night (Tuesday) after the News & Mail went to press, before a trip west to Bath City on Saturday.