Farnham Town 2, Sheerwater 1

REJUVENATED Farnham Town overcame all the odds to secure a stunning 2-1 win over title-chasing Sheerwater at a soggy Memorial Ground on Tuesday night.

Fresh from putting three second-half goals past FC Deportivo Galicia on Saturday, Town were mightily impressive in the first half against their lofty Division One rivals – racing into a 2-0 lead – before a superb rearguard action in the second sealed the three points.

“It was a great result but it’s a bittersweet one because we knew the boys had it in them to beat the big teams in the worst conditions with the odds against them,” said Town boss Luke Turkington, who was reflecting on the six-game winless run which has left his side with a mountain to climb as they chase top spot.

Indeed, it was hard to believe that this was the same team that had surrendered so tamely in successive 4-1 defeats against Bagshot and Chessington and were beaten 1-0 at home by Cove just a few short weeks ago.

There was certainly no sign of meek surrender on Tuesday night from Town in a game that nearly didn’t go ahead at all has heavy rain siled down on the Memorial Ground.

But go ahead it did and how Town took full advantage in a dazzling first half, sweeping confidently upfield and taking the game to Sheerwater, whose own title hopes were dented in defeat.

Jordan Page, who had a good game patrolling the midfield, opened the scoring after seven minutes with a low drive into the bottom corner after Sam Gillett had chased down a seemingly lost cause, only to disposses the Sheerwater full back and feed Ash Peck who sidefooted the ball into the path of Page.

Page then warmed the hands of the Sheerwater goalkeeper moments later as Farnham continued their relentless assault with good movement and slick passing on an even slicker surface.

At the other end, young Town goalkeeper Harry Birchnall made two flying saves to keep his side in front before Gillett doubled Town’s lead, reacting quickest to gleefully thump the ball into the net after Page’s low penalty had been saved after Jack Falvey had been crudely brought down in the box after latching onto Otis Taylor’s long ball.

“I gave them more freedom. It’s do or die now, you’ve just got to go out there and enjoy it. We’ve gone straight back to basics, think of it like a training session and go out there and enjoy the game, work hard for each other and that’s exactly what the boys did. I’m really pleased for them,” said Turkington.

While Farnham flew out of the blocks and had much the better of the first half, Sheerwater showed their class and bossed the second, but they came away with only a goal on the hour to show for it despite wave after wave of roving attacks.

But Farnham, to a man, defended manfully, the back four rock solid, the midfield nipping away at their opponents’ heels and the forwards patiently looking to feed off scraps whenever Town could relieve the pressure.

And despite being down to a bare 11 with no substitutes, super Farnham held firm.

“The first half we deserved it, the second half they did, but we rode the storm,” said the likeable Town boss. “It was pleasing to see in bad conditions and on bad pitches you can still try to play the right way. We held on a little bit in the second half but we got the result.”

And Turkington was quick to admit that victory on Saturday against Deportivo had settled a few nerves.

“Everyone just relaxed, we finally stopped the rot,” he said. “We’ve had a torrid six games, points we’ve dropped when we should have won, minds going all over the place, mental strength non-existent at this time and coming back to get your win is a relief because the boys realised ‘yes, we can do it’.

“The first half was particularly good because we told the players you have got to make an explosive start and set the tempo. It’s our home pitch, let’s show them what we’re made of.”

And they did.

“All the players worked tirelessly, they were running on fumes when they came off,” said Turkington, whose side are at home to lowly Eversley & California at the Memorial Ground on Saturday, “and we can try to use that mentality and that momentum on Saturday and hopefully pick up a third straight win.”

Farnham Town: Birchnall, Meaton, Taylor, Sharratt, Harper, Oakley, Page, Nash, Gillett, Peck, Falvey.