ONLY wins will really do for Farnham who remain well adrift at the foot of the Surrey Championship Division One table, but there were positive signs on Saturday as they claimed the winning draw in the relegation battle at Chipstead off the last ball of the game.

Chipstead, Coulsdon & Old Walcountians – what a mouthful – were put in by Tom Grimes on a pitch that had a green tinge.

Rob Goldsworthy and James Berry bowled tight lines, with the ball darting about, but were let down by their fielders in the early overs.

Goldsworthy did eventually make the breakthrough, having skipper Rob Woolley caught, and one brought two as Berry dismissed Woods three balls before the first drinks break: Chipstead 53-2.

Farnham kept up the pressure and the home side were scoring at little more than two an over.

The introduction of spin brought another wicket, Nathan Thorpe producing a beauty to bowl Ben Dombrandt. But the next breakthrough was a long time coming as Matt Foakes and Adam Davey took the score beyond 150.

Foakes reached a good 50 and Farnham were now unable to contain the batsmen as they cleverly found the gaps and picked up valuable boundaries.

Thorpe eventually broke the stand, but another useful partnership followed between Foakes and John Bristow. A Grimes run-out ended that one, but Chipstead had wickets in hand and Foakes’ 81 off 123 balls ensured a very competitive 252-6 off the maximum 66 overs.

Berry reeled off 21 tight overs in the heat and with Farnham having bowled their overs quickly, they were due 58 back.

But Farnham got an awful start, Mike Bradley having Thorpe caught behind with the first ball of the inning.

This did not faze Guy Hicks, though, and he took the attack to the bowlers, striking any loose deliveries to the boundary.

He and Will Davies took the score to 46 before the latter was adjudged leg before to a swinging ball from Woolley.

Hicks raced to a brilliant 50 off 52 balls, hitting 10 fours, but then he and Toby Ward went in quick succession and Farnham went into tea at 71-4.

Ciaran Rooney and debutant Henry Sensecall, who got off the mark by drilling a four through the covers, rebuilt for a while, but then the latter was also trapped in front and Farnham were struggling at 118-6.

At that crucial stage, Jamie Strachan, called up from the 2nd XI captaincy, played positively alongside Rooney and the pair shared an excellent partnership of 92, attacking judiciously and playing defensively when required.

Victory was beckoning at 210-6, when Nikhil Patel bowled Strachan for a fine 45. Farnham had to re-adjust their sights and Rooney’s masterful 77 not out, including 11 fours and a six, guided them to 222-8 – just enough for the winning draw and a confidence-booster ahead of the home match with Chessington this week.