Farnham Town let slip a two-goal lead as they crashed 3-2 at Tadley Calleva on Tuesday night.

Town were sitting pretty as they led with goals from Jamie Hoppitt and Liam Pestle going into the final 15 minutes.

Matt Bunyan had a chance to make the game safe but saw his shot saved – and Tadley went down the other end and scored.

And that, said manager Sean Birchnall (pictured), was the turning point.

“When you’re 3-0 up, even if a team pull a goal back there’s not the same intensity – but at 2-1, they had something to fight for.

“Their whole body language and attitude changed and they put us under a lot of pressure. We made a couple of mistakes with our decision making and conceded two goals in the final couple of minutes.

“That’s football. We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it.

“It’s disappointing and the players were really feeling it in the dressing room afterwards, but it’s only one game.

“We have some young lads in the side but we also have a lot of experience and they will be a bit embarrassed by the defeat, and won’t let that happen again.

“But overall, we have a new team playing under a new manager and I can’t fault their work ethic.

“We have had the same team on the pitch for three games now and the players are starting to get to know one another. We are playing teams who have players who have been together for a couple of years, but we haven’t.”

Town travel to play Frimley Green this weekend and Birchnall expects a reaction from his side following the manner of the defeat.

“We also have a couple of players who used to play for Frimley,” he said.

“But in this division, every game is tough and you have to be prepared to work hard.

“These local derbies are matches people should want to play in. If I were still playing, these are the matches I’d want to be involved in.

“The league hasn’t settled down yet and teams are still looking at their options. You probably shouldn’t look at the table until ten games in, when you can gauge where you really are. We are three games in and we have won one, drawn one and lost one, and played one of the favourites to win the league.”

A crowd of more than 250 at the Memorial Ground watched Town beat Cobham 1-0 – and miss a hatload of chances during the afternoon.

Jack French hit the only goal of the game.

Town’s next home match is the league game against Camberley Town next Tuesday (7.45pm).