FARNHAM TN 1, SOUTHALL 0
FARNHAM gave a superbly committed all- round performance on Saturday to gain another vital win in their fight against relegation. Town need to pull out all the stops because four teams could be relegated from the Premier Division this year. Farnham are still fourth from bottom, with Cove also winning to stay one point ahead, but Town have an important game in hand over their local rivals. Ross Hodgson scored the only goal of the game as Farnham beat a skilful London side in an entertaining contest at the Memorial Ground. The confident visitors attacked from the start, putting the Town defence under severe pressure. But dogged determination and last- ditch tackles, plus some poor shooting, meant that the home goal stayed intact. Farnham, meanwhile, were always a threat on the break. Mike Brawley was again a tower of strength in the Farnham goal. Leon Fisher, after a solo run, saw his shot deflected wide by the 'keeper and, from the resulting corner, Brawley beat away Jerry Moses' header. Farnham's heroics paid off when they snatched the lead in the 20th minute. Chris Shearer, winning possession on halfway, fed the ball through to Wayne Grant who lobbed 'keeper Jason Hartley and Hodgson ran through to supply the final touch. With their confidence high, Farnham almost added a second soon after when Hodgson's first-time cross was headed against the anglebar by the diving Grant. Southall continued to squander openings, while Gary Parker was well positioned to clear a Moses header off the line. The pattern continued in the second half, with Southall forcing the pace and Town looking to counter-attack. Farnham nearly conceded an equaliser when Brawley fumbled a shot from Moses and Shane O'Sullivan put the rebound wide. But it was mostly a story of disciplined defending by the home side and when the pace of the game finally slackened, Town calmly preserved their one-goal advantage. There were a couple of scares in the last five minutes and Farnham's good work was nearly undone by Scott Hannah's poor back-pass straight to Denver Morris. But Brawley was quickly out to save at the substitute's feet. Farnham: Brawley, O'Brien, Tuck, Parker, Hannah, Hunt, Francis (Turkington), Yeates, Grant, Hodgson, Shearer. Subs (not used): Norris, Cassidy, Burgess, Lauder-Dykes. This Saturday, Farnham travel to bottom side AFC Wallingford, looking to return with three points, while the Reserves entertain Frimley Green. Farnham Town's re-union of former players takes place on Saturday, April 30, from 6 pm at the Mead Lane clubhouse. All are welcome.