Farnham Town’s Impressive Away Win Includes A ‘Goal Of The Season’ Contender!
This was, almost certainly, the Town’s most complete performance of the season.
Despite yet more injuries requiring adjustments to the starting line-up, Farnham Town delivered a display that left their fans ecstatic.
Manager Paul Johnson elected to start with an attacking 4-3-3 formation that would ultimately deliver four goals of real quality, yet the Town started poorly and found themselves a goal down after just five minutes as slack defending from a corner gave Banstead Athletic not one, not two, but three chances to score, despite the best efforts of Farnham ‘keeper Liam Harris.
Despite this early setback, Farnham looked the better side and were rewarded for some attractive attacking play when Jamie Hoppitt latched onto a long ball from Lamar Koroma and placed a chipped volley perfectly over the Banstead ‘keeper to level the score.
The remainder of the first half saw chances at both ends, with the Town impressing up front yet, understandably, given the makeshift nature of a back four that had never played together, offering opportunities for the home side to retake the lead.
Four minutes into the second half, and Hoppitt turned provider for Kainen Oragbade to open his account for the club, taking Connotr Young’s pass and drilling a ball across the six yard box for Oragbade to turn in, virtually unmarked, at the far post.
First, on 55 minutes, a mistimed challenge on Kainen Oragbade when he was through on goal gave the referee no option but to award a penalty that Lewis Flatman despatched powerfully into the roof of the net.
Then, just three minutes later, Flatman would score his second with a definite ‘Goal of the Season’ contender!
The ball didn’t touch the ground as, from inside his own half, Richie Mbele volleyed forward a back pass from Connor Young to pick out Jamie Hoppitt just outside the Banstead penalty area. Hoppitt then cushioned his volley perfectly for Flatman to strike a vicious dipping volley over the ‘keeper and into the net. If you haven’t already done so, check it out on-line!
After all that excitement, the match rather petered out in the final half hour.
Conscious of collecting additional injuries, the Town made a series of substitutions that affected the game’s rhythm, but allowed Farnham to see of the match safely and collect yet another three points on the road. A result that the Town can hopefully build on when they face rock bottom Frimley Green on Saturday.
MOTM : Jamie Hoppitt