Match Report

Saturday and a return to the Kent Cup for Farnborough and a sunny and mild day defied the fact it’s now October.

Farnborough started slowly, so the change is season hasn’t changed the football as it’s been fairly typical all season. Fleetdown seeing lots of the ball early and dictating play from the centre of the park. This time though we were far more resolute and Ricky Simmons and Matt Pragnell won everything in the air and we kept the scores level.

15 minutes in and we were beginning to get on top, Dave Martin at left back pushing forward into the midfield area and starting off a number of attacks down the line and we were eventually rewarded with what was certainly our goal of the season thus far. Matt Pragnell played a sweeping cross field ball from right back, Chris Charlton delivered a fantastic out-swinging left foot and Mike Graham slung it past the keeper on the half volley from 18 yards…how'd ya like them apples. What a goal.

Farnborough carried on pushing and dictating the play to the half time whistle and it’s fair to say we were chuffed to bits at the break. I'm fairly sure that’s the first time we've got in at the break in front this season and to be fair we deserved it against strong opposition.

The second half started the same and it was quickly 2. Max Richardson winning the battle of strength, laying it simple to Ben Slade who in turn helped it on to Mike Graham when he could’ve had a go himself. Mike Graham in turn lashed it home first time and we were in dreamland on 50 minutes.

Fleetdown pushed on from here but to be fair never created a thing, Ricky and Giorgio won everything in the air and we were fairly comfortable throughout and might have made it 3. Fleetdown though did pull one back to make for an uneasy last 15 but we were resolute, restricted them to very few chances and saw the game out comfortably.

Performances like this should lift the belief in the side and fingers crossed we now kick on in the league games and start moving in the direction that the players in this side warrant. Bring on the next round of the cup.