Spencer Day still wants more from his team
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Sloppy Farnborough not so four-midable
By Jon CouchNovember 01, 2012
SPENCER DAY saw his Farnborough charges score four to move into the top four – but then gave them what for!
Ruthless Boro took no pity on crisis club Truro with a third successive goal feast at Cherrywood Road to climb into the Blue Square South play-off places.
But it was the manner of the 4-1 victory which disappointed no-nonsense Day, especially given the fact the cash-strapped Cornish visitors, who narrowly avoided expulsion from the Football Conference earlier this month due to their on-going financial troubles, were forced to battle away with just 12 fit players and veteran manager Lee Hodges on the bench.
"Credit tonight goes to Truro; the players, the fans, the manager, not us," Day admitted. "I don't think I've ever felt so low after winning 4-1.
"We're having a bit of dip in form at the moment and we were sloppy again tonight. I suppose, though, if we can be off-form and win 4-1 then we should be happy, but it wasn't a great performance by any means.
"We could have been four up in the first ten minutes but then we lost control of the game and it was a real relief when the second goal went in.
"It was the same in the second half, we started brightly, hit the bar, but then we stopped again, people were coasting.
"There are a few players that have set high standards that aren't hitting them at the moment, but a win's a win and we move on."
Victory proved the perfect fillip for Day, who was still smarting after Saturday's narrow 3-2 defeat at Hayes & Yeading, while also handing Boro the psychological edge for their FA Trophy opener on Saturday week - at home to, yes you've guessed it, Truro City.
With top scorer Nic Ciardini nursing an injury from Saturday, Day handed new arrival Elvis Hammond a first start since his recent release from prison, and goal-hungry Farnborough started like a train.
The lively Dave Tarpey, in particular, caused all sorts of problems down the right, first presenting Reece Connolly with a golden opportunity six yards out - only for the Aldershot loanee to completely mis-hit his shot - then producing two crucial saves from keeper Tim Sandercombe and a goal-line clearance from Jake Ash.
The deadlock breaker simply had to come and on 14 minutes it duly arrived – that man Tarpey again latching onto a short headed back pass from Cody Cooke, rounding Sandercombe and burying a shot that the back-tracking Cooke was unable to prevent crossing the line.
At that point it was surely a case of how many Boro would score but the hosts suddenly took their foot off the gas, conceding possession all too easily and letting Truro back into the game.
Ben Williams headed Danny Carne's cross just over, while Andy Watkins' effort from Les Afful's corner fell into the grateful arms of Craig Bradshaw.
But just when boss Day began to show his frustration, clinical Boro struck again against the run of play. Bradshaw's deep free-kick was flicked on by Reece Jones for Connolly, who finished emphatically into the roof of the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Day's half-time rant prompted an immediate response with Tarpey rounding Sandercombe only to fire wide of the near post, while Dan Bennett's effort from Hammond's centre was deflected onto the top of the bar.
To their credit, though, Truro kept plugging away and with Boro unable to find any kind of rhythm you got the sense the game wasn't over yet.
Bradshaw made a crucial save to deny Afful when clean through, while Jake Ash's free-kick drifted narrowly wide.
And their pressure told on 72 minutes when Marcus Martin picked the ball up 22 yards out and curled a shot into the bottom far corner. It was no more than they deserved.
Boro, however, kept plugging away and after squandering several chances to put the game to bed, Dean Inman did just that, turning home Tarpey's drilled cross with six minutes left.
And the game was well and truly wrapped up in the final minute when Tarpey's run and low centre was bundled home by substitute Scott Day.
Indeed, Tarpey is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment, and it was he who got the ball rolling at Kingfield on Saturday, giving Boro a 27th-minute lead against hosts Hayes - his close-range shot clearly crossing the line despite the efforts of home skipper Sam Cox, who was saved a certain red card by handling the ball on the line.
Winger Daniel Wishart levelled for the hosts on the stroke of half-time with a fine effort into the corner before 6ft 5in substitute Alassane N'Diaye put Hayes in front with a close-range header.
Boro then went in search of an equaliser of an equaliser, but it was Hayes who netted the all-important fourth goal, through another sub, Manny Williams, leaving Farnborough with too much to do, despite Hammond notching his first goal for Farnborough in injury time, firing past debutant keeper Brandon Hall at the second attenpt.
Only runaway leaders Salisbury City have scored more goals in the league now than Farnborough, who make the trip to take on nely-relegated Bath City looking for a fifth win in six.
But as Day rightfully warned, they will need to play a lot better than they did on Tuesday night, and even Saturday, if they are to succeed.
FARNBOROUGH: Bradshaw, Bosch (Huggins 86), Treacher (Moody 60), Inman, Inns, Jones, Bennett, Laidler, Connolly, Hammond (Day 77), Tarpey. Subs: Abalimba, Norris.
Ref: Rob Hyde. Att: 343.
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