FARNHAM TN 1, KNAPHILL 1

FOLLOWING the manner of the 11-1 defeat to Sutton Common last week, Farnham felt that a new manager was needed in the desperate fight to avoid relegation from the Combined Counties Premier League.

Step forward Reading Academy coach Emmanuel Boudine, Town’s third manager of the season, as the club look for a great escape.

And the Farnham faithful were given a glimmer of hope as the players stepped up to the plate and a committed, never-say-die effort salvaged a point against top-ten side Knaphill, who have reached the final of the CCL Premier Challenge Cup.

It took Town 45 minutes to find their rhythm and adapt to the new manager’s tactical and personnel changes.

Knaphill dominated the first half, but even this early into the new regime there seemed to be greater resolve in defence – possibly something to do with Max Meaton slotting in at right-back after a two-game suspension.

Knaphill found chances at a premium and the highlight of half was a flying save from Adrian Giles to keep out a powerful free-kick.

From the start of the second half, Farnham strove to take the game to their opponents and it became a keenly-contested end-to-end affair.

Things threatened to boil over at times and Knaphill’s Harry Rapley was lucky to escape a second yellow card for a foul on Lee Marker. He was quickly substituted.

The new intensity of Town’s play had Knaphill rattled and the claret-and-blues had the scent of victory, only being denied the lead by an offside flag.

But it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play in the 77th minute after some neat one-touch football on the edge of the box. Giles parried the initial shot, but the loose ball fell to Danny Taylor whose shot just squeezed in at the far post.

Farnham have tended to droop in similar situations this season, but now they found a higher gear and the returning Steve Ramsden came on to give the attack a different dimension.

Injury time has been Town’s Achilles heel all season, but this time it was they who pounced with a last-gasp equaliser.

Keeper Giles had already been up for one corner by the time Farnham were awarded a free-kick in the 97th minute. Knaphill half-cleared the danger, but the ball dropped to Meaton some 30 yards from goal and a screamer of a volley gave Max Roffey absolutely no chance. Farnham’s goal of the season? Probably.

All in all, a promising start for Boudine who will have seen enough to believe that Town’s fate is far from being sealed