‘Gutted’: big blow to Boro’s play-off hopes
MANAGER Spencer Day declared himself “totally and utterly gutted and distraught” after Farnborough’s National League South play-off hopes took a knock on Saturday with a 1-0 home defeat to Taunton Town.
Farnborough enjoyed a 3-1 home victory over in-form Chippenham Town on Thursday evening – but playing twice in three days came at a cost.
Boro’s play-off hopes took an enormous blow last weekend and are now out of their hands, after a defeat at home leaves them with an outside chance of finishing the season in seventh place.
Taunton Town were the visitors to Hampshire on Saturday in the midst of an extremely hectic schedule for Rob Dray’s men desperately fighting in a tight relegation battle.
Both teams had a chance to score in the second half as visiting striker Ross Stearn was denied by goalkeeper Jack Turner in a one-on-one, and Ricky Holmes’ left-footed strike was pushed past the post by Taunton Town’s number one Dan Lavercombe.
The Peacocks were reduced to 10 men in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Substitute Ben Acey was dismissed for two cautions in 24 seconds, but it was too little too late for The Yellows in front of another bumper home crowd of 1,246.
Farnborough are relying on Hampton & Richmond Borough to slip up at St Albans City during the week, as well as away at Maidstone United on the final day – and need to win themselves to be in with any chance of sneaking into the playoffs.
A deflated Day reacted: “I’m just totally and utterly gutted and distraught, to be honest. It was just a game too far for us. Sadly, our worst performance in a very long time. We just had no quality.
“You must give Taunton credit. They have put their bodies on the line all over the place.
“I think we probably had 70-plus per cent possession. We’ve not made their keeper work and we just weren’t good enough on the day. It was a really underwhelming performance, but I don’t want to take away how brilliant these boys have been. It is absolutely gut-wrenching and it is actually going to live with me a long time. We were just very, very poor today; it’s as simple as that.
“The set-piece goal was abysmal; our passing was poor and our energy levels were poor. To be honest, I don’t think we had many chances. Poor shots, everything was wide. Set pieces – we weren’t hungry enough on the first and second contact. The energy levels weren’t there. We are very young. I can’t tell you what went right.
“We made it easy for them, because we couldn’t pass from A to B. We fell into the trap and you’ve got to give Taunton all the credit in the world – they’ve got something to fight for. They played on Thursday as well.
“In isolation, you’re be furious.
Another big occasion; we just haven’t turned up and today was the worst of the lot. Really hard to take.
“Many congratulations to Rob [Dray, Taunton Town Manager]. I’ve got so much time for them with what they’ve been through, because we’ve been through it here. I really hope they stay up.”
On the faint play-off hopes, Day said: “It’s probably over for us now. If you look back at what a season we’ve had – particularly the second half of the season – it’s been great. We’re in a really good place. It doesn’t take anything away; sadly we just didn’t have it in the tank.
“I’m gutted for the club, because we’ve now had four or five big days this season at home and we haven’t actually given the crowd what we wanted to. The crowd were great. I’m sorry that we’ve fallen at the very last hurdle. We were running on empty. Today was just a really bad day. It’s going to take a long time to get over it, because I think we had a chance. It’s that old cliché I’m afraid. It’s the hope that kills you.”
This Saturday, April 20, Boro end the regular season at 14th-placed Weymouth, kick-off 3pm.