Luca Scatola’s Match Report from Farnborough’s opening game of December, against Hampton & Richmond Borough at the Easy As HGV Stadium.

Farnborough started the game well, holding possession well and playing positive, free flowing football. This was rewarded 22 minutes in, after Hisham Kasimu was tripped by goalkeeper
Matteo Salamon in the box and the Referee pointed to the spot. Kasimu stepped up to take the spot-kick looking confident, and rightly so as he buried the penalty far beyond Salamon’s reach in the top right corner.

However Boro’s joy was short-lived, as five minutes later Francis Amartey played a cute one-two with Sam Deadfield and in the blink of an eye was in behind and through on goal.
Jack Turner rushed off his line, but Amartey kept composed and took the ball around him and scored from a tight angle into an empty Farnborough net.

In the dying moments of the first half, a huge chance arose for Farnborough to take the lead. A brilliant corner was whipped in, and was met by the head of Kevin Lokko. The Boro skipper rose brilliantly and the header looked like it was sailing into Salamon’s net. However, the visiting keeper got down brilliantly and denied Farnborough the chance to head into the second half on top.

HALF-TIME: Farnborough 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

The second half started similarly to the first; Farnborough were dominating possession and were well disciplined at the back, defending well for the odd Hampton & Richmond Borough break. This led to another Farnborough goal, as Oliver Pendlebury took a shot from outside the box, however it found its way to the feet of Ollie Robinson, who turned brilliantly and slotted home to the keeper’s left.

Yet again Hampton & Richmond Borough reacted pretty much instantly, as they equalised through a close range Dean Inman header. Turner had no time to react and for the second time, Gary McCann’s side found a way to draw level.

Both teams began to pile on the pressure as it looked like one goal would secure the three points for either side. However after the 90 minutes neither side could find a way through, and the points were shared.

FULL-TIME: Farnborough 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough 2

Att: 457