Luca Scatola’s Match Report from Farnborough’s home clash with Chelmsford City in The Vanarama National League South.
Back at the Easy As HGV Stadium, this time for a League game against Chelmsford City, Farnborough were looking to get the ball rolling after a slow start to the season. With games coming thick and fast through the winter, this would be a perfect time to grab the third League win of the season for the Boro.
After a slow opening few minutes a brilliant chance arose for Farnborough, as Reggie Young picked up possession out wide and dribbled past Chelmsford defender Liam Trotter. He got to the by-line and fizzed in a low cross aimed at Ricky Holmes, who did not hesitate to strike it first time on the 6-yard box. From this close the fans were expecting the net to bulge, however goalkeeper Ejeheri got down phenomenally and made the save with his legs.
Neither team had a big chance after this until, in the 34th minute, Hisham Kasimu picked up a rogue pass from Trotter and ran with the ball into the box. He kept his composure in the box and with Adebola Oluwo on his tail Kasimu lifted his leg to shoot and fell to the floor after a push in the back from the backtracking Oluwo. To the home fans’ joy, the penalty was awarded.
Hisham Kasimu stepped up for Farnborough, a player who was in terrific form scoring in three of the four previous games. Standing directly in front of the Farnborough fans, he took a deep breath and fired low towards the keeper’s left. Ejeheri, who had already been very busy in goal, got down to his left and tipped the attempt just past the post in a wonderful fashion to keep the game level going into half-time.
HALF TIME: Farnborough 0-0 Chelmsford City
The second half was much more even, Farnborough seemed to step off the gas after their relentless first 45 minutes. Neither side had a proper look in at goal until Chelmsford defender Barnum-Bobb almost put one in his own net with ten minutes to go. Kasimu passed out wide to Reggie Young after some nice hold-up play, and Young received and looked up to pick out a divine driven cross that had the Chelmsford defence scrambling, and a desperate Barnum-Bobb stuck out a leg that luckily for him took the ball just shy of the left post.
With the game seemingly ending goalless, both teams threw the kitchen sink at one another for a thoroughly entertaining closing ten minutes.
Either side just needed that moment of quality that the game had lacked, and to the home fan’s dismay, it was Chelmsford that produced it. Substitute Khale Da Costa found the overlapping run of Barnum-Bobb and his first time driven cross was met by the right foot of fellow sub Lodovica who cooly slotted into an empty net, giving his side a late advantage bringing the score to 0-1.
Farnborough tried everything they could, with an abundance of deep throw-ins and long shots, however it simply wasn’t enough to break down the well regimented Chelmsford back line, and the game ended in a 0-1 win for the travelling side.
FULL TIME: Farnborough 0-1 Chelmsford City
The home side will be very disappointed with this result. After creating countless chances they were lacking in the final third. Spencer Day will definitely see the positives of today’s performance, however the visiting team stole the three points and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. He will now look to bounce back on Saturday’s FA Cup tie away at Swindon Supermarine.
