GUILDFORD CITY 2

FARNHAM TOWN 3

CONFIDENT Farnham Town have had a productive week – picking up a league win on their travels and progressing in a cup competition in the space of four days.

They followed a tremendous 3-2 win at highflying Guildford City in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League on Saturday with an equally impressive 3-0 win at Banstead Athletic to move into round three of the league’s Premier Challenge Cup.

Town boss Paul Tanner made three changes for the league trip to Guildford, with Elliot Cardona, Doug Ford and Nick Medcraft in the starting line up.

His side made a reasonable start in the opening 10 minutes before the home side took the lead after poor marking allowed a City player to score at the back post from a free kick.

But Farnham hit straight back as Medcraft finished off a good team move when he got the better of a one-on-one with the Guildford goalkeeper.

Hoping to consolidate after the goal and try to take possession of the ball, Farnham found themselves behind again after a near carbon copy of the first goal. New signing Josh Tarrant conceded a free kick which was played to the back post and turned in.

Farnham settled into the game despite the setback and began to put the Guildford back four under pressure, offering real encouragement that Tanner’s men could get back into the game.

Tanner shuffled the system at half time with a view to heaping more pressure on Guildford by moving the ball around quickly. And it paid off as Max Meaton cut in from the left and struck the ball home inside the near post after a flowing move from side to side to level the score at 2-2.

But better was to come as Tanner again urged his side forward, with the returning Cardona ghosting in at the back post to cap another flowing move and put Farnham ahead for the first time in the match.

The goal shocked Guildford into life and they spent the last five minutes buzzing around the Farnham box, but the visitors held firm to take all three points as goalkeeper Anthony Giles made a superb double save.

On Tuesday night, goals from Jack Dillon, Douglas Ford and Jordan Stepney earned Farnham Town a place in the third round of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup at the expense of Banstead Athletic.