FARNHAM TN 1, GODALMING TN 2

TUESDAY’S local derby was a ‘must win’ game for Farnham, but their awful run continued as Godalming snatched all three points with a late winner.

After a spate of postponements and a winless league run extending to three and a half months, Farnham found themselves in the relegation zone of the Combined Counties Premier League and were desperate to kick-start their season back into life.

They certainly started brightly enough and took the lead on just eight minutes, Max Meaton smashing a shot which gave visiting keeper Aiden Upward absolutely no chance.

However, Godalming, buoyed by a recent upturn in results, always looked lively and confident.

They had a goal disallowed for offside on 15 minutes, but were not to be denied for long. Seven minutes later, a long ball caught out the Farnham defence. Adrian Giles was caught in two minds whether to come or stay and striker Luke Haskell stole in to lift the ball over the stranded keeper.

The Farnham faithful hoped to see a fired-up team emerge for the second half, but it was a similar story to Saturday as Town failed to raise their game.

Godalming were quicker into the tackles and looked to keep the ball on the deck and attack at pace. Farnham, in contrast, went into their shells, left gaps all over the pitch and resorted to long balls out of defence which seldom troubled the visitors.

Upward hardly had a save to make, while Giles had to be constantly alert to deal with well-placed corners and a rasping 25-yarder that he did well to tip over the bar.

A Godalming winner always looked on the cards and after holding out until the 85th minute, Farnham were punished for another defensive lapse. Bobby Webbe got to his feet after a strong tackle near the edge of the area and was allowed space to hit a screamer past Giles.

Only then did Farnham find some real urgency and they almost equalised when Charlie Bath, after some determined play down the right, whipped in a cross that Jack Dillon and the returning Jon Lancashire came within millimetres of connecting with.

Coupled with the second-half capitulation to North Greenford, it’s been a depressing few days at the Memorial Ground and a sharp upturn in form is required if Farnham are to claw their way out of trouble. At present, it’s hard to see where the next win is coming from. They will try again at Hanworth Villa this Saturday.