Farnham Town slipped to a 4-2 defeat at home to Billericay Town in the National League South.

Sam Evans and Darryl Sanders were on target for the Town, but goals from Charlie Ruff (2), Macauley Bonne and Taylor Clark gave the visitors all three points at The Memorial Ground.

The visitors had the first shot at goal of the afternoon in the fourth minute, when Clark’s right-footed effort from the edge of the box was comfortably held by Farnham keeper Michael Eacott.

Farnham nearly took the lead a minute later when Billy Clifford slipped a pass through to Bobby-Joe Taylor, whose curling effort from just outside the box went just wide of the left-hand post.

The Town went close again on seven minutes when Taylor drove forward and dragged his left-footed shot wide of the right-hand post.

Billericay created a good opportunity in the 12th minute, but Jon Benton dragged his left-footed shot into the side netting at the near post.

Farnham were soon back on the front foot and nearly took the lead on 16 minutes when Tom Leggett stood up an inviting cross into the box from the left to Rakish Bingham, whose header went just over the bar.

The Town did go ahead in the 19th minute when Sanders played a superb pass with the outside of his boot to Evans, who took a touch inside before confidently burying his finish past Billericay keeper Joe Wright into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Farnham nearly doubled their advantage two minutes later when Bingham slipped a pass to Sanders, who took a touch inside before curling his right-footed effort just wide of the far post.

The visitors nearly got back on level terms on 33 minutes when Clark's right-footed effort from the edge of the box took a slight deflection and clipped the top of the crossbar.

Billericay did equalise a minute later from the resulting corner when Ruff confidently swept his low finish past Eacott from close range.

The visitors then went 2-1 up in the 35th minute when a quick counter-attack ended with Elliot Long squaring the ball to Bonne, who slotted his finish under Eacott's legs.

Billericay nearly scored a third on 41 minutes when Bonne drove forward down the right and squared the ball to Benton, but Eacott did superbly to make himself big and block Benton's effort from close range.

The visitors went close again in the 44th minute when Bonne’s pass found Long, whose low left-footed shot was well held by Eacott.

Billericay did go 3-1 up in first-half stoppage time when they launched a quick counter-attack down the left and Ruff showed quick feet to work a yard of space in the middle of the box before poking his finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The visitors had a chance to score a fourth before half-time when Long's right-footed effort was parried away by a strong hand from Eacott.

Farnham manager Paul Johnson made one substitution at half-time, with Jack Spong replacing Clifford.

Johnson made his second substitution of the afternoon in the 58th minute, with Erion Zabeli replacing Louie Holzman after Holzman had taken a knock to the face. Farnham’s manager then made a double change on the hour mark, with Owen Dean and Trae Cook-Appiah replacing Evans and Bingham.

The Town pushed to get back into the game, and scored a superb goal on 68 minutes to make it 3-2. Dean passed inside to Spong, who unselfishly played in Sanders, who confidently slotted home.

Farnham looked for a leveller, and Sam Hutchinson tried his luck in the 73rd minute with a volley from distance which went wide.

The Town went close again on 79 minutes when Sanders slipped a pass through to Cook-Appiah, whose first-time effort forced an excellent save from Wright.

Billericay almost scored a fourth in the 84th minute when Long let fly from outside the box with a powerful strike which rattled the crossbar.

Farnham had an excellent chance to equalise on 90 minutes when Wright spilled the ball in the box, but Cook-Appiah hooked his acrobatic effort just over the bar.

The visitors scored their fourth of the afternoon in stoppage time when Clark slotted home past Eacott after a quick counter-attack.

Next up for Farnham is a trip to Horsham in the National League South on Saturday, August 29 (3pm kick-off).