Farnham Town 3, Westside 1

FARNHAM Town are made of stern stuff this season.

Goals from skipper Jacob McDonald, Jack May and Matt Glass cancelled out Westside’s opener at the Memorial Ground last weekend and earned Town a third straight win in all competitions.

And Luke Turkington’s charges couldn’t have found form at a better time as they return to cup action against Beckenham Town in the FA Vase on Saturday.

Farnham have already beaten one step five side in the competition this season – having lowered the colours of Langney Wanderers – and ran Fleet Town mightily close in two fascinating ties in the FA Cup.

“We’re going to be the underdogs again but we’ll be going there to try to enjoy the occasion and enjoy the game and give it our best shot,” said Turkington.

“The players like the Vase, they like it that they are in a cup competition. We’re putting a bus on to Beckenham and it’s one of those days that you should relish. We’ve already toppled one step five side, can we topple another? Either way, I’m already pleased with our progression.”

Turkington will be without the services of influential skipper McDonald on Saturday when Town travel to face Southern Counties East League side Beckenham Town, who lie third in the Premier Division after winning four of their first five games with one defeat – an identical record to Farnham’s.

McDonald settled Town’s nerves by netting the equaliser against a decent Westfield side shortly before the break on Saturday before second-half goals from May and Glass pushed Town up to third place in Division One of the Combined Counties League.

“The way he took the penalty to make it 1-1 was tremendous,” said Turkington. “It was a pressure penalty but he’s put it top bins and he gives you that little bit of impetus to go forward and win the game.

“Then our tails are wagging and we’re going for it at home. You ask your captain for inspiration and he does that.

“He is going to be a big miss on Saturday. He has been instrumental in our wins this season and it’s what we were looking for, one of the midfielders to be a general in there and he does that incredibly well for us. He’s like the silent assassin. Every week he does his job.”

The win against Westfield, which keeps the pressure on Jersey Bulls and Sandhurst Town at the top of the table, follows Town’s 7-0 spanking of Cove in the league and that gutsy 2-1 win over higher-ranked Langney Wanderers in the Vase.

“It’s a hat-trick of wins,” said Turkington, who will also be without right back Jack Mitchell at Beckenham on Saturday.

“I know it’s two in the league and one in the cup but nevertheless it’s all about trying to get a run of good form and we’re buoyant enough to try to get something out of Saturday’s game.”

Saturday’s win was a little bit baffling for the boss as he watched his side go a goal down before storming back with three goals to win the game for the second time this season having repeated the trick against Kensington & Ealing Borough.

“We were comfortable from the off despite them being one of the best footballing sides we have come across so far,” he said. “They had a good game plan and it was effective for the first half an hour, but I was bemused how we went behind.

“But it’s good to know that when we do go behind we are comfortable enough to try to go on and win the game.”

Beckenham Town reached the second qualifying round of the FA Vase with a 3-2 win at CB Hounslow United.

Farnham Town: Kerrison, Mitchell (Sowden 62), Whiddett, Meaton, Sabo, H Oakley, Nash, McDonald, C Oakley, Atkinson (Glass 55), May. Subs (not used): Brainch, Taylor, Sharratt.