Frimley Green 3 Farleigh Rovers 2

Frimley Win despite 2 goal deficit at HT

Following last weeks disappointing home loss to Ash United, Frimley Green went into this fixture looking for nothing but 3 points.
The starting line up continued the regular theme of having at least 8 out of our usual starting 11 in the side which is one of the main reasons for our recent successes on the field. Roberto Dos Santos started his 3 match suspension, Matt Kellet-Smith was unavailable and George Bowerman remains sidelined due to injury.
Stuart Norman took his place between the sticks, infront was Captain Zac Horkan returned to the lineup following illness that kept him absent from our loss to Ash United, Jim Ward, James Dinsdale and Debutant Peter Millington-Lee covering for the absent Smith. In Midfield, Luke Taylor returned to the line-up following recent injury, Drew Matthews, Sam Hamer and Dan Bone alongside. Up top James Mepham and Eddie Mckinlay looked to increase their goal scoring figures.

It's been a rather cold and wet couple of weeks and The Rec is showing signs of having 5 times as many games on it at this point in the season compared to previous seasons, but it's still great to get games on when possible as much as it's testing the players ball control abilities.

The game kicked off with high intensity and Frimley were rewarded with an early Pen with Dan Bone fouled in the area. Sam Hamer stepped up, however his spotkick was saved.

Frimley continued to push at Farleigh, however great defending and goalkeeping kept Frimley at Bay.

Farleigh began to get into the game and started to stretch the Frimley backline, they were rewarded when a slip by Millington-Lee allowed Farleigh a 1 on 1 chance, Stu Norman couldn't quite get to the ball and took out the sprinting Farleigh Striker to concede a penalty. Despite having a player inline with the ball as it was struck, the penalty was converted and given.

Frimley tried to gain back control, however as with some previous games, there was a lack of cutting edge, a slight lack of urgency and Farleigh took a 2 goal lead. A defence splitting pass was excellently converted into the bottom corner. 0-2 Farleigh, Frimley Supporters and management in disbelief at being 2 down at HT.

Managers John Cook and Jamie Daltrey are known for their HT teamtalks and they didn't disappoint. Would we see a different Frimley coming out second half?

HT and Scott Sanders replaced Luke Taylor and a change of formation, 0-2 down, just go for it, appeared to be the decision.

From the kickoff, Frimley chased, harassed, bullied and controlled the second half, relentless waves of attacks mixing short, long and channel passes, it seemed a matter of time before an equaliser. It came in the form of Sammy Hamer, smashing home from the edge of the box.

It could have been an equaliser immediately too as corner after corner Frimley went close, first Scott Sanders headed over, then Jim Ward, then Millington-lee, it just wouldn't go in, until up popped Skipper Zac Horkan to smash home the equaliser.

It would have been easy to settle for a point, but not this Frimley, the relentless drive of Hamer, Dinsdale, Matthews and Bone created waves of opportunities and then came an opportunity. Freekick 35 yards out, Mckinlay stepped up. A curling effort destined for the top left corner, excellently saved..... 2-2 it was to be......... Mepham had other ideas. A delightful ball over the top by Mckinlay into the Farleigh area saw Mepham leap and head over the onrushing keeper....... 3-2 Frimley, the fightback complete. An incredible end to a game and the cheers showed how much it meant to all involved.

In the last 2 away fixtures to Farleigh we've conceded 90+minutes equalisers, so to take the points with our own felt great, but next time a nice simple game will do.

Man of the match was given to Jim 'The Beast' Ward, who was an absolute rock at the back, he won everything in the air, communicated, took charge of his defence and was just his solid best, a fantastic performance.

Credits of course to all the players, they came out second half, showed no fear and just continued to drive forwards, it's that fight and desire which has got us results and will help us to continue our hopes in chasing down those above us.

This victory, made it 10 in the league. The same total as the whole of last season, with 16 games to play, all we can ever ask for is improvement and progress and we are achieving our aims.

Next week we travel to current league leaders Worcester Park.