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Football: Boro's Price is right
By Charlie OliverFebruary 04, 2010
FARNBOROUGH have had to battle for points this week — but their lead at the top of the Zamaretto Premier remains as strong as ever.
On Saturday they had to come from a goal behind to see off Tiverton Town 2-1 at Cherrywood Road, thanks to strikes from the two Maccas: Dean McDonald and Daryl McMahon.
And then on Tuesday evening their trailed 2-0 at Bedford Town at half-time, only for Jack King and Gary Holloway to restore parity.
From there, Boro should have gone on to win but they had to settle for a point.
But, defeats for Nuneaton Town and Cambridge City ensured Boro gained a point on them. While Brackley Town may have beaten Truro, Boro are still nine points clear of Brackley, with two games in hand.
If Steve King’s side are not in their very best form right now, their record since the December defeat to Nuneaton is one other sides in the division can but dream of: six wins and two draws from eight games.
And, on Tuesday’s evidence at Bedford, King has a new trick up his sleeve in the form of Owen Price.
The winger arrived at Cherrywood Road in the summer with a big reputation, after being compared to David Beckham by many observers as a teenager and being on the books of Tottenham Hotspur and Deportivo La Coruna, before arriving in Farnborough via Scandinavian football.
But it is only recently that Price has approached anywhere near full fitness and nor could King, earlier in the season, find a place for Price in a team that was already winning.
Now, however, Price may start more regularly, after setting up Holloway’s equaliser at Bedford — part of a performance his manager described as ‘unplayable’.
“Owen can play way above this level,” said King. “He was unbelievable at Bedford. His crosses were just undefendable.
“He put in seven or eight Premiership-quality crosses, on an awful pitch, and it was an insult really that our forwards did not get on the end of them. He is almost too good for this level.
“All Owen needs is the ball fed to him and he will make half a yard and whip in perfect crosses. He was just undefendable. He is a hell of a player and there is no one else like him at this level.”
King said his faith in Price is beginning to reap its rewards. “Some people forget that Owen missed a whole pre-season. I am a fair manager and I am not one to make many changes to a successful team. So, Owen has had to wait his chance.
“But you cannot judge a player on the odd game here and there, plus a few substitute appearances. Players need to adapt to a new level, whatever it is, and only after a run of ten or so games can they be judged.”
Price is yet to benefit from such a run in the side but may now do so, especially given the promise of his partnership with new right back Craig Braham-Barrett, the former Peterborough United player.
“Craig just got the ball to Owen [Price] and let him make that half a yard," said King.
“But Craig is a great outlet for us. He is so quick that he could catch pigeons. And that means he can get back and recover, too.
“We have him for the rest of the season and we’ve hoping to sort something out for the next one, too.”
King is still looking to bring in another forward, especially in view of the Bedford game.
“We need a natural goalscoer, it was even more clear at Bedford,” King said. “Dean McDonald scores brilliant goals and Kezie Ibe is strong and powerful — we have fantastic forwards — but we need a natural finisher. I’m hoping to tie up a deal for a new man by next weekend at the latest.”
A new goalkeeper is likely to come in very soon, too. King said that young keeper Stuart Robinson ‘could probably have done better’ with the Bedford goals, both of which were scored directly from freekicks, by Junior McDougald.
“Stuart has great potential and I will stay with him,” said King. “But the position is one I have not been totally happy with all season. Perhaps I need to bring in an experienced guy, to take Stuart out of the firing line.”
On Saturday, Farnborough are at Oxford City, who sit just outside the play-off spots.
“It will be a tough game,” King said. “They have brought in a couple of players and have people back from injury, too.
“But I am really looking forward to the game, too.”
With Steve Robinson suspended and James Smith out after having an operation on his nose — he is expected back in a couple of weeks’ time — Jamie Stevens should partner Adam Doyle in the centre of defence.
“I left Jamie out against Bedford as I could not afford for him to get injured. I need him at centre back on Saturday and it is a position he has played before, when he was at Crawley," said King.
As for the Bedford game, while King hailed his side’s character, he was frustrated not to pick up the three points.
“They had two shots in the first half and scored. We had missed several half chances,” said King.
“We came out after the break and Jack King scored with a crisp volley and then Owen set up Gary Holloway.
“After that, we battered them. Their goalkeeper turned into Superman. Stuart had just one save to make — it was so one-sided.”
Bedford had Jamie Cole sent off for two bookings with 18 minutes to go but Boro could still not complete their comeback.
“It was still a point gained on most of our rivals,” said King. “But I wanted all three points and I thought we deserved them. But, having said that, 20 points from a possible 24? I will take that, all day long.”
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