Godalming Town 1, Farnham Town 1

FARNHAM Town made the short trip to Wey Court last weekend to face an inconsistent Godalming Town side – and came away with a point thanks to a stunning free-kick from Kylo Atkinson.

With no recognised goalkeeper available for Town, defender Luke Medcraft donned the gloves.

In perfect footballing conditions the game began at a frantic pace as both teams attacked from the start, and there were half chances at either end.

But it was the hosts who took the lead in the 20th minute from their first clear-cut opportunity. A ball from the right wasn’t properly cleared by the Town back line and it fell to Chris Burke on the edge of the area. His poorly-struck shot appeared to be going wide until it hit Nick Medcraft’s head and nestled in the bottom corner.

The rest of the first half was fought in midfield with neither team taking control, but a foul in the 44th minute 25 yards out gave Farnham a chance to draw level before the break. And this opportunity wasn’t missed as Atkinson curled a delicious free kick over the wall and past Jordan Knight in the Godalming goal to level the scores.

If the first half was and even affair then the second was anything but. Godalming hit the post on the hour mark but it was Town who peppered the home side’s goal, creating chance after chance.

And on a frustrating afternoon for Farnham it was poor finishing, bad luck and good defending that prevented the ball from crossing the line.

One such golden chance came in the 85th minute and it was a back pass the Godalming keeper let slip under his foot.

Jordan Page raced on to the loose ball and seemingly all he had to do was tap the ball into the net, but a Godalming defender raced back and somehow hooked the ball off the goal line.

And in the last minute of the game, the ball was hit over the top to Danny Turner on the break.

His afternoon had consisted of a series of missed half-chances but he didn’t get the chance to atone as the experienced Curtis Osano crudely brought him down inches outside the penalty area.

The defender saw red and it was left to Atkinson to try to claim all three points from the free-kick, but the chance was lost when he slipped on his run-up and the ball cannoned off the wall and away for a throw-in.

Tuesday night’s Surrey County Cup game against Westfield Reserves fell victim to the wet weather.

* On Saturday, Farnham Town take on Division One leaders Bedfont & Feltham at the Memorial Ground (kick-off 3pm).