McMahon hit the winner in the FA Trophy match at Hemel.
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Football: Boro back on top
October 22, 2009
Zamaretto Southern Premier
Farnborough 4 Rugby Town 1
FARNBOROUGH are back on top of the Southern Premier after a resounding victory at home to Rugby Town.
Boro had a game in hand over previous leaders Bashley and this victory took them three points clear at the top - and the three-goal margin of victory also saw Boro better Bashley's goal difference, too.
Steve King's side are still unbeaten this season and this win extends that record to 16 matches, ahead of their biggest test yet - Saturday's FA Cup clash at home to Conference side Salisbury City.
The Rugby win saw a welcome name on the scoresheet: Kezie Ibe. The big frontman has been working tirelessly in recent weeks and has set up many a goal for his side but this, Boro's third, was Ibe's first goal since the end of August.
Boro, who fielded the same XI who had started in Saturday 1-0 FA Trophy win at Hemel Hempstead, had struggling Rugby on the back foot from the off, thanks to a headed goal by James Smith, from a Daryl McMahon corner, just four minutes into the game.
Rugby have just two points all season and have lost every away league match - but in David Kolodynski they have a potent striker and he kept Boro's defence on their toes all evening.
But Boro stretched Rugby all night, with Dean McDonald, Ibe and Anthonny Thomas a lively front three.
Rugby did keep the score at 1-0 until the second half but Boro moved up a gear in that period. McDonald made it 2-0 on 50 minutes, set up by Ibe.
An own goal by Smith, after good work by Kolodynski, briefly worried Boro - it was the first goal Richard Barnard had conceded for more than 300 minutes - but King was able to call on re-inforcements from the bench.
On came Jack King and and Owen Price and soon Boro were 3-1 up, with Ibe ending his drought, thanks to a tidy header, on 72 minutes.
Manager King was then able to rest Ibe and give a debut to newcomer Iyseden Christie, the much-travelled striker. He set up the fourth goal for Sacha Opinel, who rode two challenges before thumping home the first goal of his second spell at Cherrywood Road.
Farnborough: Barnard, Opinel, Ciardini, Wormull (King 65), Robinson, J Smith, McMahon, Holloway, Ibe (Christie 80), McDonald, Thomas (Price 65). Not used: Doyle, O Smith.
THE old Farnborough Town enjoyed many a memorable FA Cup moment but the new club, in just its third season, is still feeling its way in the old competition.
But on Saturday Steve King’s Farnborough have the chance to inflict an FA Cup shock — and, if they do so, who knows who they might meet in the next round.
In the hat for the next draw — the 1st Round — will be Leeds United, Southampton and Charlton Athletic. Plus local rivals, including Aldershot Town and, possibly Woking.
Conference side Salisbury City stand in the way in Saturday's 4th Qualifying Round tie. Tommy Widdrington’s team may be two tiers above King’s, but they will not relish facing unbeaten Boro.
Salisbury will still, however, start the match as clear favourites. While they sit as low as 17th in the Conference table, they did start the season on -10 points, after the club entered administration.
Without that penalty, the Whites would be challenging close to the play-off spots.
Widdrington’s side had put together a run of four straight league wins, before they crashed at Stevenage Borough last Saturday, in the Conference.
Indeed, while Salisbury have won four games away from home, they have also lost five — Boro will fancy their chances of forcing a replay, at least.
King will be without two key players, however. Striker Bradley Bubb — the best Boro attacker on view when Widdrington watched Farnborough see off Heybridge in the last round — is suspended and so too is Daryl McMahon, the cultured midfielder. Defender Adam Doyle will also be serving a ban.
Boro marched on in the FA Trophy last Saturday, thanks to a 1-0 win at Hemel Hempstead.
Daryl McMahon scored the winning goal early in the first half, after fine approach play from Kezie Ibe.
With Bradley Bubb suspended, King has added former Dagenham & Redbridge striker Chris Moore to his squad and he made his debut, from the bench.
Boro have been drawn at home to Ryman 1 South side Burgess Hill Town in the second qualifying round, on Saturday October 31.
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