City take the favourites all the way

Manager Andy Leader faced the worst possible scenario on Saturday. He had to pick his team up after a disastrous cup exit the week before but without much training and the cancellation of the mid-week match against Paulton Rovers (rearranged for 4th February) due to the wet weather, his task was made that much more difficult. Facing Farnborough Town, the favourites for the championship, away from home, his task looked impossible but the team responded magnificently and came within two minutes of taking all three points. The team welcomed back Steve Llewellyn after a length injury and he took the centre half spot in place of the suspended Matt Bowler and two new signings, Adam Aimable (from Basingstoke Town) made a start and Aaron Parfitt (from Thatcham) came off the bench.

Farnborough started strongly and forced a corner with only the second pass of the game but it was City who were the first to show when Stuart Hussey forced the keeper into a save from close range. Aimable also got in a shot when the ball was knocked out of defence and fell to him on the edge of the penalty area. The break, however came in the 6th minute when Hussey worked his way into the box to lay on a chance for the unmarked Dave Allen to sweep home much to the dismay of the voracious Farnborough crowd!

After going behind, Farnborough put City under pressure but the defence played very well and although City keeper, Clint Davies, had several shots to deal with he was never really in trouble. City suffered a blow as early as the 24th minute, however, when Aimable came off with a knock and James Davis replaced him.

Although Farnborough played well coming forward their defence was not the best and Nathan Lynch came close to to doubling the score but at full stretch the Farnborough keeper, Lyall Beazley, managed to tip the shot away.

The home side were back on terms in the 28th minute when Nic Ciardini crossed for Marcus Richardson to beat Clint Davies with a fine shot. back on terms Farnborough poured forward and City managed to scramble the ball away in a crowded penalty area and then Hussey falling back hacked the ball out of his own penalty area to break up another attack.

City hit back and against the run of play took the lead again in the 33rd minute. Llewellyn headed home a corner in a similar unmarked position to Allen’s previous goal. Just after Andy Leader was forced to shuffle his team again when Lynch, who had a lot of pre-match treatment to get him on the field, limped off to be replaced by Aaron Parfitt who soon showed his worth with a penetrating run.

Farnborough came back again and a constructive move down the flank saw Darren Wheeler’s cross was converted by Rob Saunders (41st) to send the teams in level at half time.

City tightened up their midfield in the second period and stopped a lot of the Farnborough forward moves and showed their intent in the 49th minute when Allen put in a long range shot which the keeper somehow fumbled around the post. Adam and George, Sam Lockyer and Scott Gillham controlled the midfield which allowed full backs James Wilson and Adam Lang to advance down the flanks and City were a more potent forced.

Parfitt received a head injury which resulted in a lengthy touchline treatment but he returned with copious bandaging and completed the game. City made their last change in the 67th minute with Tom Riddell coming on for Hussey and his youthful enthusiasm gave Farnborough problems in the box. ity took the lead for the third time in the 71st minute when Wilson cut back from the byeline and George curled a delightful ball into the net. With City supporters now daring to hope for the win the referee awarded a penalty to Farnborough in the 88th minute. No-one was sure why! Later he said that he saw a foot slice Alexander down. Saunders converted the spot kick for his second goal.

Even now the game was not over and right at the death it looked as City might snatch it when Riddell and George tussled with the keeper almost on the goal line but the custtodian managed to get his hands to the ball and clear as the full time whistle went.

City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Adam George, Steve Llewellyn, Scott Gilham, Adam Aimable, Dave Allen, Nathan Lynch, Stuart Husey, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Janes Davis (24th), Aaron Parfitt (38th), Tom Riddell (67th) Warren Bentley and Liam Gilbert.