Combined Counties Division One - Saturday 20th November 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FTFC 1-1 South Park --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Both sides probably left fairly happy with a point but both sides had good chances to snatch all three points and deal the opposition a blow in their title push. Going into this match Farnham had lost only two league matches this seaosn, one of which came on the opening day away at todays opponents South Park and with the visitors on a fine run and scoring goals for fun, Farnham knew they were going to have to battle hard all over the park. It was leading scorer Mark Corbett who had the games first clear chance in only the second minute. From a deep free kick, centre half Ben Williams won the initial header putting Corbett clear who would only strike his well struck strike straight down the keepers throat, when if he had scuffed his shot it would have probably found its way into the net. An early chance that could have changed the outcome. Farnham had the better of the early play with the midfield trio of Webb, Tuck and French doing well to link play trying to use the pace of Dillon when possible on what is turning into a very heavy and muddy Memorial Ground. In the 8th minute South Park could have gone infront as Tuck gave possession away in a bad area, the South Park striker could only sky his chance over the bar. Five minutes later it was Ben Williams who tried his luck from long range but it was an easy save for the away goalkeeper. In an exciting opening half, it was then South Park who had another chance, as a fine run through the middle of the Farnham side, led to the striker having a one on one with home goalkeeper Brock, who did enough meaning the strikers finish didn't even hit the target, and the scores remained level. Only three minutes later and Farnham were fortunate again, this time left back Liam Flanighan miscontrolled the ball and instead the ball fell to a South Park wide man who wildly struck high and wide when presented with the ball in a decent area. Late in the half it was again South Park who could have taken the lead in a tight contest. A great delivery from the South Park right was just out of the reach of the visiting number 9 who couldnt quite meet the delivery and surely find the back of the net from inside the six yard box. Then Jack Dillon hit back with a mazy run of his own resuting in a shot straight at the goalkeeper, and Farnham might feel themselves unlucky not to be awarded an injury time penalty in the first half as new signing Matt Bremford burst into the box and looked to have his shirt pulled but nothing was given. Half Time: FTFC 0-0 South Park South Park had some decent early possession at the start of the half but it was Farnham who scored the first goal. Dillon had won a free kick for Farnham down the right flank, with left back Liam Flanighan whipping in a decent delivery that ended with the South Park number 5 slotting the ball past his own goalkeeper after 51 minutes. Sadly for Farnham, for the next ten minutes they sat off a quick South Park side, without being able to clear their lines and get any decent possession of their own. Home goalkeeper Brock was booked after challenging with a South Park player as he rushed from his goal to block a shot but worse was to come as firstly Bunyan allowed a long ball to bounce and was beaten for pace bringing a smart save from Brock, but the equaliser was coming and despite the finish being a quality placement past Brock in the home goal, Farnham should have dealt with the danger earlier but ended up sinking deep and inviting the pressure that resulted in the South Park goal. South Park should have taken the lead on the 66th minute as a break down the right and some decent interplay say a shot fly past brock at his near post and go across the front of the six yard box leading to a home goal kick to the relief of the Farnham players. Brock then made another decent save, in a one on one with the South Park player after Webb, this time was the guilty party in losing possession in their own half and were fortunate to not go behind. With only five minutes left on the clock South Park thought they had won the match after a 30 yard strike troubled Brock, and saw the ball fly over his head and smash against the bar, with Liam Flanighan the only home player to react, challenging for the ball as the South Park striker slid the ball in to an empty net to cheers from the travelling fans. But, to their disappointment the flag was up and the goal was chalked off to leave the game at 1-1 with both sides feeling they could have walked away with three points with some better finishing. Farnham had Brock to thank for some good saves throughout the match to keep the score level and keep both sides in with a shout of promotion as we go into the busy and often critical festive period. FTFC: Brock, Flanighan, Wareham, Wilson, Bunners(c), Webb, Dillon, Tuck, French, Corbett, Bremford (Whiddett 65) Subs Unused: Barnes, Horner, DE, Ferris Scorers: Own goal 51.