GODALMING TN 1, FARNHAM TN 3

BACK in August, Godalming dumped Farnham out of the FA Cup, 3-0 in the Preliminary Round.

Things are rather different now. Godalming are languishing in the Combined Counties Premier League’s relegation zone and it was Farnham’s turn to finish convincing winners at Wey Court and continue their unbeaten sequence.

After a slow start, Farnham picked up the pace and soon had a goal disallowed for offside.

Godalming, in fact, caught the visitors offside repeatedly, but their tactics backfired in the 22nd minute when Farnham broke again – this time no flag – and a Rory Sellick tackle on the jet-heeled Jack Dillon, who had already missed a couple of good chances, conceded a penalty.

After two misses from the spot against Lymington, Dillon took over the duty, only for Dimitrios Kyriatzis to pull off the first of many excellent saves. But the Gees’ cheers were cut short as they failed to clear the rebound and, after a scramble, Adam Horton thumped the ball into the back of the net.

This spurred the home side into greater urgency and, with 35 minutes gone, Jon Bennett was unlucky not to equalise with a cracking shot that had Adrian Giles beaten, but was blocked on the line more by luck than good judgement.

However, Godalming were not to be denied and, just before half-time, a cross from Bennett was turned into his own net by Doug Ford.

Farnham still looked like they wanted the win more and piled on the pressure, forcing a series of fine stops from Kyriatzis who was undoubtedly Godalming’s man of the match.

The Gees had plenty of scope to launch counter-attacks, but invariably conspired to give the ball away through poor passing or a breakdown in communication.

The inevitable happened in the 70th minute when, following a corner, the ball dropped to Jordan Stepney – returning from suspension – and he powered in a superb right-foot shot to restore Farnham’s lead.

With 10 minutes left, another squandered Godalming opening left them open to the breakaway and substitute Sam Slater, making an instant impact, fired home from the edge of the box to make it 3-1.

“The performance and attitude was excellent and the belief in our style of football is starting to show,” said Paul Tanner, the Farnham manager.

Farnham: Giles, Flynn, Ford, Stepney, Tarrant (Smith 65), Spiers (Slater 60), Meaton, Horton, Cardona, Peck (Ramsden 80), Dillon. Subs (not used): Medcraft, Cox.

• Farnham, after a midweek trip to Colliers Wood, entertain Bridgwater Town in the second round proper of the FA Vase this Saturday, kick-off 3pm at the Memorial Ground.

The Somerset side are currently eighth in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.