A LATE goal salvaged a point for Farnham against fellow strugglers Westfield on Saturday.

After the dire run they have endured, culminating in a 6-1 home defeat against Frimley Green before Christmas, Farnham's relegation worries were eased by this draw.

Although third from bottom, they have a five-point lead over Viking, with two games in hand. Cove prop up the league with three points from 26 matches.

And Farnham's approach was much steelier in this match, especially in the second half when the 85th minute equaliser was a just reward for their spirited showing.

Farnham reverted to playing with a lone striker and although the tactic allowed Westfield a large slice of the possession, Town at least stemmed the flood of goals against them.

A dour first half was mostly played in the middle third of the pitch, with chances few and far between.

Flynn headed against the post for Westfield and when, after 15 minutes, an unmarked Bailey put the visitors in front at a free-kick, it seemed that Farnham were staring another defeat in the face.

Black dragged his shot wide when he had an excellent chance to make it 2-0, while Farnham at last posed a threat when Ross Moore drilled a 20-yard effort over the bar.

Early in the second half, a combination of Chris Rye's good goalkeeping and Westfield's poor shooting kept Farnham in the game.

But then Town started to string passes together on their counter-attacks and it became a much more open contest.

Paul Brooks' crossfield pass released Peter Pike who was only denied by Pink's blocking save.

Then Brooks and Moore combined on the right to set up Kevin Annetts who pulled his shot wide of the target.

At the other end, Rye saved superbly from substitute Reeve and, with 20 minutes to go, only Jones will know how he managed to shoot over the bar from six yards out..

But Farnham kept plugging away. A good shot from Pike was pushed round the post by Pink, and then came the deserved equaliser with five minutes left.

Moore latched on to a ball from Scott Hooper and left defenders trailing on the right flank before finding the tireless Annetts who beat Pink at the near post from 12 yards.

Farnham deserve credit for their fighting spirit, but what would the team of 'golden oldies' in the crowd have made of their containing tactics. Dave Turner, Ray Clarke, Peter Fitchett, Scotty Colston, Curly Farr, Derek Wythe, Keith Haskell, Geoff Chapple, George Priest and Nobby Cooper all played for Town sides that placed the emphasis on attack. No doubt they talked a good game on Saturday!

Farnham: Rye, Brooks, D Evans, Haskell, Decicco, C Evans, R Moore, D Brown, Hooper, Annetts, Pike. Subs (not used) M Brown, A Warner, Baker.

Farnham are away to AFC Wallingford, the league leaders, on Saturday.

Ash United have had a frustrating Christmas programme. Their Boxing Day home match with Farnham was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and their fixture at Raynes Park on Saturday was also postponed.

Ash are due to entertain Feltham this Saturday.