Farnborough FC

Football: Boro are worth the wait

By Charlie Oliver
October 15, 2009

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round replay

Farnborough 3 Heybridge Swifts 0 (aet, 0-0 90 mins)

THREE glorious finishes were worth the wait at chilly Cherrywood on Tuesday night, as Boro set up an FA Cup tie against Conference side Salisbury City in the next round.

Win that tie against in-form Salisbury and Farnborough will be in the 1st Round hat with the likes of Leeds United, Southampton and Aldershot Town.

After Saturday's 0-0 draw in Essex, when Boro had played the last 25 minutes with nine men - first Adam Doyle and then Daryl McMahon had been sent off - this match on home territory was expected to be a more comfortable affair.

But no cup games are easy and Heybridge from the level below (Ryman 1) gave Farnborough a run for their money, thanks to an energetic, if unambitious display, taking the game into extra-time, after shutting out Boro for 180 minutes across the two games.

But Boro really should have won this game at a canter in Wednesday's normal time, only to be let down by bad finishing, a little bit of selfishness - from Dean McDonald in particular - no luck at all and some poor refereeing from Lee Venamore, who had so incensed Boro in Saturday's first game.

Heybridge might even have nicked the win: Nicholas Muir and Ben Hull both forced excellent saves from Richard Barnard in the last ten minutes.

But Boro took over in extra-time, once Bradley Bubb, who was a danger all night and had earlier been denied by the post, had smashed them ahead with a dipping drive on 103 minutes.

A lovely individual goal from McDonald followed in the 112th minute, before substitute Anthony Thomas turned superbly and drilled a third home five minutes later.

"Bubb's goal was unbelievable," said Boro boss Steve King. "We nearly took Dean [McDonald] off, earlier, as he was not releasing the ball early enough. But you know he might just do something special - and he did.

"It was hard work but we were in control of all the game, only to miss chance after the chance in normal time," said King. "If we had lost, it would have been our fault.

"Credit to Heybridge, they had willing runners, took us all the way and their keeper was outstanding. But I was disappointed it went to extra-time. It was another 30 minutes for tired legs."

The replay did provide Boro with more money besides the standard prizemoney for winning the round and King said that he will be bringing in a couple of new players, with a striker a priority, in the near future.

"We have Bradley Bubb suspended now for three games and, if we are playing with three forwards, we need another on the bench, too," said King.

Thomas will most likely replace Bubb in Saturday's FA Trophy clash against Hemel Hempstead, his former club. "Hopefully tonight's goal will kick-start things for Anthony," said King.

But by the time Salisbury arrive, Doyle and McMahon, the elegant midfielder who makes Boro tick, will be suspended, too, as well as Bubb.

"Yes, we'll be missing players but it will be a good game, with a big crowd in," said King. "We will give them a game, we have a good side - they know that and were here tonight watching us. But it's going to be tough - Salisbury are one of the form teams in the Conference."

Before then, King has the Trophy to concentrate on, plus a Southern Premier match at home to Rugby next Wednesday.

One thing he'll be hoping for will be better refereeing than Venamore's effort.

"It was the worst refereeing I've seen for a very long time," was one of the more complimentary things King had to say. "It was very frustrating."

Venamore's decision-making was, at best, incongruous and, at worst, inept. Both sides suffered at his hand but Boro appeared to come off worst, with one decision not to award a penalty after a trip on Kezie Ibe the most extraordinary.

But Boro came through and the win was welcome after three draws, two of them goalless.

"We can't win every game but we are still unbeaten," said King. "No other side in the country, at a reasonable level, can say that. That record will go one day but the lads are confident that they can go a long way unbeaten."

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