Omar Rowe’s first half header proves enough to seal the Boro a deserved 1-0 win.
Maidenhead started strongly, with Kane Ferdinand forcing a brilliant save from Jack Turner in a one-on-one situation, proving yet again how valuable he is to his side.
However, Farnborough fought back, after 10 minutes of Maidenhead dominance Farnborough countered through Fernandes, who played a ball over the top into the feet of Ferdinand. He dribbled past one and squared it to Rowe, who took too long to pull the trigger and had his shot blocked.
Around the twenty-minute mark Ricky Holmes had a knock with Sam Barratt. It didn’t look too serious but after attempting to run it off, Spencer Day clearly didn’t want to take the risk and replaced him with Jonathon Page in the 28th minute.
Farnborough started to see a lot more of the ball by this stage, and on 33 minutes Sam Deering played a delightful ball over the top into the path of Fernandes, who took it out wide and crossed it into the box. The cross didn’t hit the danger zone, however Maidenhead defender Sam Beckwith, in an attempt to clear the ball, headed it straight back in the middle where Omar Rowe planted the header straight into the bottom right corner. Daniel Gyollai had no chance and Farnborough took the lead.
HALF TIME: Farnborough 1 Maidenhead United 0
Farnborough started the second half on the front foot, and came close when Michael Fernandes cut inside from the left wing and tried to curl the ball into the far top corner producing an incredible save from Daniel Gyollai, who somehow pushed the ball to the crossbar, and it bounced out for a corner. That was one for his highlight reel, incredible goalkeeping.
On minute 60 both managers felt the need to switch things up and brought on some fresh legs. Jack Ball and Hisham Kasimu replaced CJ Fearn and Liam Ferdinand for Farnborough, while Remy Clerima and Zico Asare made way for Temi Eweka and Koby Arthur for Maidenhead.
Kasimu almost made instant impact, five minutes after he came on he lay it off to Omar Rowe, who hit it first time and barely missed, a matter of inches over the bar.
With 20 minutes to go both teams made more subs, with Reece Smith and Ryan Upward departed for Esan and Adams. For Farnborough, the returning Selim Saied came on to replace Michael Fernandes.
With ten minutes to go Maidenhead had a huge opportunity to equalize when Sam Barratt whipped in a menacing cross and Samson Esan missed the header from 6 yards out, glaring it over the bar.
Five minutes later Temi Eweka let another chance go begging, as Sam Barratt sent a long throw into the box and he headed it straight into the gloves at Jack Turner.
With some solid game management Farnborough held off the final waves of Maidenhead’s last gasp attempts and eventually won the game.
It was a convincing Farnborough performance, the long balls clearly seemed to work, especially with Sam Deering who was playing passes over the Maidenhead back line making it look easy. Spencer Day will hope to see more performances like this, hopefully next time a little more clinical in the final third.
FULL TIME: Farnborough 1 Maidenhead United 0
Farnborough
Manager: Spencer Day
1. Jack Turner (GK)
4. CJ Fearn
5. Ollie Robinson (C)
6. Kevin Lokko
7. Ricky Holmes
8. Sam Deering
9. Liam Ferdinand
11. Reggie Young
16. Jordan Norville-Williams
20. Michael Fernandes
30. Omar Rowe
Substitutes:
2. Jack Ball
10. Trialist
12. Jonathon Page
15. Selim Saied
17. Hisham Kasimu
Maidenhead United
Manager: Alan Devonshire
1. Daniel Gyollai (GK)
2. Remy Clerima
3. Sam Beckwith
4. Will de Havilland
7. Sam Barratt
10. Kane Ferdinand
14. Ryan Upward
17. Reece Smith
23. Adrian Clifton
25. Alan Massey (C)
30. Zico Asare
Substitutes:
6. Cole Kpekawa
12. Bradley Keetch
16. Samson Esan
18. Temi Eweka
20. Koby Arthyr
21. Daniel Sparkes
27. Charlee Adams
Match Officials
Referee: Jacob Wright (Portsmouth)
Assistant: Tom Berry (Weybridge) and Rob Nicholas (Basingstoke)
Fourth Official: Jordan McRitchie (Fareham)
