FARNHAM TN 2, SUTTON COMMON RVRS 1

FARNHAM came back well after a disappointing result at the weekend, beating Sutton Common Rovers in a scrappy, but entertaining Combined Counties League game at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday.

“To lose two on the trot was the last thing we wanted,” said manager Paul Tanner, “and we weren’t much better in the first half tonight. But we squeezed them hard in the second half and got Matt (Glass) behind them to score two quick goals.”

Glass has tended to score goals in clusters this season and that knack again got Farnham out of trouble after Sutton had led for most of the game.

Phil Page fired the visitors into the lead after only two minutes, following a risky back pass to the keeper by skipper Darren Wilson.

Mistakes were aplenty on the bobbly surface and it could easily have been 2-2 at half-time.

Farnham forced a couple of fine saves from Sam Freeman-Johnson, while Matt Petts had to be at his best to deny Francois Gabbidon as Rovers threatened to double their lead.

In the second half, Hamilton Antonio missed a great chance for Sutton, but Farnham were working up a head of steam, forcing the visitors to defend deeper and deeper.

Rovers held out until the last quarter, but then conceded twice in five minutes.

The first goal was a comedy of errors as Jon Lancashire’s header sent Glass racing through. After a partial save by Freeman-Johnson, Glass fell over, got up, tussled with a defender and finally prodded the ball into the far corner.

The winner was an individual effort as Glass, after a long diagonal run, cut in from the left. He scuffed his shot after another unkind bobble, but still beat the keeper at his near post.

Sutton looked a decent side and almost equalised in a furious goalmouth scramble, but the Glass brace won the day for Farnham.

Farnham Tn: Petts; Wilson, Graham, Williams, Marker; Meaton, Cardona (Dillon), Whiddett, Staines; Lancashire, Glass.

* Former Farnham striker Mark Corbett, who ended up coaching Walton & Hersham after joining them as a player, was unable to save the club from relegation. With Richard Ossai, also recruited from Farnham, in goal, Walton lost 4-1 to Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday and, with a three-point deduction, will finish in the bottom three of the Ryman League Division South. Barring a reprieve, the Swans will drop back to the Combined Counties.

* Farnham, feeling the strain of a packed fixture schedule, lost 3-1 at home to Chertsey.

Goals from Alex Brister and Andy Crossley, the latter with a superb free-kick, gave Chertsey a 2-0 lead at the break.

Farnham full-back Matt Graham volleyed through a forest of legs to make it 2-1, but Joel Thompson wrapped it up for Chertsey.

* Camberley beat Ashford 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the Premier Challenge final. Their opponents will be the winners of the Farnham v Cobham semi-final, to be played at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday (April 19), kick-off 7.45pm.