Report: Farnborough 3 Dartford 1
Spencer Day’s Farnborough continued their scintillating recent form, stretching the unbeaten run to ten games in all competitions with victory over high-flying Dartford.
With Aldershot Town loanee Francis Amartey having returned to his parent Club, the Boro boss handed a start to midfielder Sam Deering, with defender Ollie Robinson also taking the place of Freddie Grant in the starting line-up.
An early chance for Dartford saw Samir Carruthers lash a volley over the bar on four minute, before fellow midfielder Luke Coulson sent a lobbed effort comfortably into the hands of goalkeeper Jack Turner two minutes later.
Just before the quarter of an hour mark, Deering tried his luck from distance with a powerful volley that was held well by Dartford’s Joe Young.
Farnborough opened the scoring a couple minutes later; having been first to every dual from a Dartford throw-in, Deering’s flick on sent Hisham Kasimu in on goal and the pacey striker saw off a clumsy challenge from Jordan Wynter before composing himself to find the back of the net.
After a positive start, Boro had their tales up and scored again with their next chance on 26 minutes. Dartford failed to clear a corner and the ball was recycled into the box to eventually be struck home by Fulham loanee Jonathon Page who wheeled away to celebrate his fourth goal of the season from midfield.
It should have been three on the half hour mark, when an Ollie Robinson headed clearance caused more chaos in the visiting defence which lead to Kasimu poking wide when one-on-one with Joe Young.
A couple minutes later and Deering found himself in the same position with a similar chance but Joe Young was equal to the low volley.
The Darts were facing wave after wave of Farnborough attack and the hosts came close once again when Reggie Young glided past Sam Odaudu and picked out Selim Saied but his low shot was cleared off the line by Max Statham.
Referee Dale Wootton had a big call to make on 35 minutes when Saied sent Kasium running onto a ball in the channel, only to be scythed down by last man Connor Essam. The Dartford Captain escaped with a yellow card for the off-the-ball challenge.
Four minutes later and it was that combination of Deering and Kasimu combining once again, with the latter winning a foot race against Wynter but the opening goalscorer dragged his shot horribly wide after advancing into the box.
HALF-TIME: Farnborough 2 Dartford 0
Visiting boss Alan Dowson won’t have been happy with his side’s first half display and brought on left-back Kristian Campbell and striker Davide Rodari in place of Charlie Sheringham and Kieran Murtagh in a double change at the interval.
It was one of the substitutes who gave The Darts a lifeline, with Campbell losing his man in the box to head home from Coulson’s corner on 64 minutes.
Farnborough restored their two goal cushion a few minutes later. The energetic Deering was fouled outside the box by Rodari for a free-kick and the Dartford substitute was cautioned. Up stepped midfielder Oliver Pendlebury who struck the free-kick high into the top left hand corner to give his side breathing space in the game.
The Darts pushed for a late goal and were denied incredibly on 87 minutes when Turner incredibly kept out Rodari’s header from point-blank range after a long throw into the box from Campbell.
Boro saw out the remaining time to record their sixth win of the season in The Vanarama National League South – and what a big win it was!
FULL-TIME: Farnborough 3 Dartford 1
Att: 712
Next up for Farnborough is a trip into Essex on Tuesday night to face seventh placed Braintree Town in The Vanarama National League South.
Match Stats (collated by Rhys Cornwell)
Farnborough
Shots on target: 9
Total shots: 15
Corners: 5
Fouls: 8
Offsides: 3
Yellow cards: 1
Red cards: 0
Dartford
Shots on target: 1
Total shots: 4
Corners: 6
Fouls: 5
Offsides: 2
Yellow cards: 2
Red cards: 0