FARNHAM gamely held Wallingford to nil-nil at the interval, only to concede three goals to the league leaders in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Even so, it was a good battling performance by Town who had lost 5-0 to the formidable Oxfordshire side in November.

The heavy, sticky surface on Saturday prevented Wallingford playing the free-flowing football they are renowned for and they were further frustrated by Farnham's fighting spirit.

The pace of Kevin Annetts caused Wallingford several anxious moments and he disappointingly shot wide of the target when put clean through by Chris Castle after just four minutes.

But Farnham, in turn, had a let-off when defender Danny Campbell headed against the base of the post after a searching cross from James McKinney.

The football was scrappy in the difficult conditions, but both sides continued to carve out chances.

Farnham's Graeme Miles shot over the crossbar and, at the other end, the dangerous Andy Shildrick twice blasted over the top.

It was Farnham who came closest to taking the lead when Paul Strudley dropped a cross from Miles and the ball ran along the goal-line before the 'keeper managed to regain possession.

Town's defence had looked impressive, with young Arnie Haskell doing an efficient marking job on Shildrick, but the visitors paid a heavy price when their concentration wavered early in the second half.

Chudy opened the scoring after playing a neat one-two with Shildrick and then Shane Small-King hit a first-time cross for man-of-the-match McKinney to score with a glancing head.

That was all inside the first five minutes. Then, with barely 10 minutes of the half gone, Marc Champion crossed from the left and as Shildrick seemed to impede Chris Rye in the Town goal, the ball fell kindly for McKinney to volley his second goal.

After that, Wallingford were content to keep possession and at times over-elaborated. Farnham were rarely an attacking force in this period, but neither could the home side make much headway, with Rye handling confidently in the Farnham goal.

The visitors deserved some reward for their efforts, but Gareth Slessor put a long-range shot straight at the 'keeper and Annetts, clean through again, clipped his effort over the bar.

Farnham: Rye, D Brown (Baker), D Evans, Haskell, Decicco, Slessor, Moore (Brooks), Castle (Hooper), Annetts, Miles, C Evans.