Holloway is getting better with every game, says his manager
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Football: Boro take the Holloway Road to victory
By Charlie OliverNovember 12, 2009
Zamaretto Premier
Farnborough 3 Chippenham 1
GARY Holloway’s thunderbolt inspired Farnborough as Steve King’s side ensured they are still sitting pretty on top of the table.
Boro had trailed at half-time — admittedly, Chippenham’s lead had come against the balance of the play of the half — but the Cherrywood faithful need not have worried.
Holloway’s superb strike, from distance, was followed up by two goals from Kezie Ibe.
“It was a brilliant goal from Gary,” said King, of the midfielder he brought back to Farnborough in the summer. After a quiet start, Holloway has grown in stature as the season has evolved.
“Gary just gets better and better,” said King. “He’s always been a slow starter to a season but now he’s getting going. He ran the midfield on Saturday.”
Boro had fallen behind to Luke Gullick’s 27th-minute goal, when he nipped in to convert Sam Allison’s cross past Nicky Morgan in the Farnborough goal.
Morgan was making his debut after arriving on loan from Braintree Town, with Richard Barnard dropped to the bench after a number of errors in recent games.
Gullick’s goal should not have been the first one of the game, however.
“We could have scored two goals right at the start,” said King. “Dean McDonald has hit the post from no distance out and Jack King had a header at the back post.
“Yes, we had a chat at half-time but I didn’t have a go at the players because we had done well — we just hadn’t taken our chances.” Holloway, McDonald and Ibe all might have scored in the latter stages of the first half.
“In the second half the players’ attitude was great,” said King. Holloway smashed Boro level, with a dipping drive from 30 yards, before Ibe continued his recent good goal-scoring form, thanks to a deflected shot, after good work from Daryl McMahon and McDonald.
While Chippenham, who had come into the game in good form, did mount a physical challenge to regain parity, Boro held firm and Ibe’s clever lob, from Holloway’s headed pass, sealed three more points.
The 3-1 win extended Boro’s unbeaten league run to 12 games and ensures that they are three points clear at the top. They have games in hand on several of the chasing pack and their goal difference is far superior, too.
“We are very pleased with where we are,” said King. “But we must keep going, grinding out the good results.
“We will eventually lose, but let's see how far we can go unbeaten.”
The rivals squabbling behind Boro — Brackley, Cambridge, Bashley and Truro — will no doubt take points off each other as the season develops but King expects every Boro game to be tougher than the one before.
“Every league game raises the bar from the last one,” said King. “Teams want to beat us even more than in the last game. It is a big ask, to demand that the players perform above average in every game — for that is what they have done so far to stay unbeaten. They have been unbelievable.”
Next up are Evesham United, away, on Saturday. The Worcestershire team are in mid-table but are yet to win at home in the league.
“They are a big side,” said King. “I would expect some direct, route-one, football but we will be ready.”
So, King is anticipating another battle of Evesham — but the good news is that a king’s army won the last one, back in 1265, when the forces of Henry III, led by the future Edward I, defeated Simon de Montfort.
Besides, if King is expecting a physical confrontation against the Robins, he has added a new dimension to the Boro squad in the form of Leon Simpson. The striker is 6ft 10in tall — for once, a tall story that is true.
Last month Simpson’s towering presence helped Merstham see off Hastings United in the FA Trophy.
Merstham thumped their higher league opponents 6-1, with all the goals coming before the break.
Simpson scored twice — no prizes for guessing what part of his body he used — and also set two up.
“Leon will give us a different angle if we want to go that way,” said King. “He was unplayable against Hastings — and we know that they are not a bad side, from when we beat them in the FA Cup.
“If we need him, we can get runners running off him and other teams may not be able to cope. He’s come from a lower level, so you never know, but this is an opportunity for him. Bradley Bubb came from a lower level and he has come good and I think Leon can do the same.”
Talking of Bubb, he is expected to be fit again at Evesham, after injury, so King must decide whether to stick with Anthony Thomas or bring in Bubb — or even Simpson. Thomas, who is beginning to find his feet at Boro, may keep his place. “It’s a selection problem I can more than deal with,” said King.
At the other end, Morgan should continue in goal. “I just felt Barney [Barnard] needed some competition,” said King.
“Steve Williams has had a hernia operation and will be out for another three to four weeks, so we've brought in Nicky. Barney has gone through a phase when he has cost a few goals and I think putting pressure on him will do him good.”
Boro v Chippenham: Morgan, Opinel, Ciardini, King, Robinson, J Smith (Doyle 68), McMahon, Holloway, Ibe, McDonald (Sylvain 73), Thomas. Not used: Christie, Simpson, Barnard.
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