FARNHAM TOWN 2, WINDSOR 2

FARNHAM came from two goals down to earn a useful draw against in-form Windsor on Saturday.

The Royalists had trimmed Badshot Lea 6-0 in their previous Combined Counties League outing and looked well on the way to three more points after striker Riccardo Cannon had fired them into a 2-0 lead after 26 minutes at the Memorial Ground.

Farnham looked off their usual pace at the start and manager Paul Tanner was not happy with Windsor’s goals which both came from set-pieces – the first a long throw-in, the second a corner, although Cannon could take credit for his clinical finishing.

“Basic marking was the main problem and simple errors can lead to defeat,” said Tanner. “But it was a great comeback by us, considering how the game went in the first half.”

The manager clearly had much to say at the interval, and Farnham move the ball forward much quicker in the second half, giving them sustained spells of pressure.

The game seemed to have swung towards Farnham when Windsor defender Andy Ingram conceded a penalty and was sent off after a foul on George Spiers. But Stan Staines failed to get any power into his spot kick and Hugo Sobte saved easily.

However, Town had the momentum against Windsor’s ten men. The visitors sat deep, inviting pressure on themselves, and paid the price when Elliott Cardona’s shot was deflected in at the far post for an own goal.

Further chances came and went as Max Meaton, Cardona, full-back Jamie Phillips and the ever-quick Jack Dillon fed a series of dangerous balls into the box.

With time ticking away, Tanner sent on Joe Clark and club captain Darren Wilson and the pressure on Windsor intensified.

It was Wilson who finally popped up at the far post to head home a Cardona free-kick for the equaliser on 85 minutes.

Farnham still had time to win the game, but Meaton had other ideas and failed to control a tackle on the edge of his 18-yard box, earning himself a second yellow card and leaving it ten-a-side for the remaining minutes. At that point, Farnham eased back on the bold approach and settled for what was a valuable point.

It’s been a decent month for Tanner’s men and they need more of the same in February with some testing matches coming up.

Farnham are on the road for their next two league fixtures – fourth-placed Horley this Saturday and Colliers Wood on Wednesday.