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FARNHAM TOWN v ABINGDON UNITED
Chris Janes4 Nov 2014 - 23:24
FARNHAM TOWN 3 ABINGDON UNITED 3 (AET) match report
United had to settle for a replay this Tuesday night after a thrilling encounter full of action, goals and controversy for both sides.
Abingdon started brightly with Jimmy Deabil causing all sorts of problems for the home side’s defence with his power in the air, slick passing had United camped around the Town area. In the fourth minute a ball cut open the back four and Anaclet Odhiambo had drifted behind them and as he touched the ball away from the dive of keeper Kallum Lunn, the goalie took his legs away. To everyone’s astonishment and Farnham relief the referee signalled a goal kick instead of a penalty.
This was to be the first of a few curious decisions throughout the game for both teams.
A minute later and a dipping shot went close from Deabil but after 20 minutes the home side began to get their pacy forwards into the game and Abingdon were exposed being too square. In one attack Drew Matthews ran on to face Lee Farrow and tried to chip the ball over him but from 15 yards out put it over the bar when it looked to be dropping in.
The warning signs were there when a free header was sent straight at Farrow who parried it away. A minute later and the home side got their reward for their efforts with a good cross from the right whipped in and Elliott Cardona was there to lash it into the roof of the net.
Deabil sent in another dangerous header that was inches away and with 25 minutes gone OIdhiambo ghosted through after some quick play and he tried to lob Lunn but the goalie got up to tip the ball higher but as it fell behind him Odhiambo was there to head the ball goalwards and a desperate header from a defender could only help the ball over the line.
On the half hour another odd decision when a Town midfielder was tripped from behind and picked the ball up to place for the free kick. The referee signalled handball as he had not blown his whistle and booked the home player for his protest.
Farnham looked to have gone ahead soon after when a shot was drilled past Farrow but Mark Threlfall flew along the line and somehow got his head to it and cleared the danger.
The Deabil Odhiambo combination worked well again with the tall striker heading down and Anaclet struck a first timer a foot wide of the far post. In the next attack Tom Butler delivered a cross along the ground which Odhiambo flicked forward and into the goal only to be denied by the Assistant’s flag for offside.
Town struck back and another ball out of midfield found the unmarked Mark Corbett whose speed took him well clear and as Farrow came out he stroked the ball beyond his reach to give the home side the lead once again.
With half time looming United again allowed their opponents too much room up front but the shot was well parried by the diving Farrow and as Threlfall slid in to deny a second chance the ball came up and struck his hand and the referee awarded what seemed a harsh penalty. There were calls for a red card but he only got a yellow.
Corbett stood up to take the spot kick and he doesn’t miss many but Farrow guessed right and at full stretch blocked the kick and kept United in the game.
The second half produced fewer scares for both goals for around twenty minutes but the action then picked up again with Abingdon levelling the scores with a well crafted move inside the area ending with Tom Melledew crashing the ball home with a thunderous shot.
Deabil was denied as Lunn dived to turn his header away and Steve Davis saw his driven shot blocked on the line. Abingdon were going for the winner but couldn’t get another score and with five minutes of normal time the home side came out looking for a goal and it was a nervy time as they had numerous corners and free kicks around the area. Matt Glass in added on time had a go from 7 yards but Farrow pulled off a great save and as the ball was thumped towards the goal again it was Callum McNeil on the post who chested it away to great appeals for a handball which was turned down, but United survived to extra time.
Town continued to apply the pressure and Matt Glass got on the end of a pinpoint cross and he back flicked the ball and Farrow was relieved to see it hit the post and bounce up into his hands on the line.
McNeil made it difficult for his colleagues when he pulled back his opponent once too many and got a second yellow and his marching orders. This was his second red of the season and with numerous cautions as well he could face quite a few games watching from the stand.
Ten man Abingdon were not going to sit back and a flick on set up Deabil whose powerful shot put United into the lead for the first time with ten minutes left. Melledew took on and went through four defenders but his shot was cleared off the line.
Town threw everyone but the goalie up and with five minutes left a high ball was headed into the mix and a beautiful swivelling volley from Drew Matthews got the equaliser and after some edgy minutes the final whistle went on a very entertaining game and a replay awaits the Surrey side at the North Court.
Abingdon started brightly with Jimmy Deabil causing all sorts of problems for the home side’s defence with his power in the air, slick passing had United camped around the Town area. In the fourth minute a ball cut open the back four and Anaclet Odhiambo had drifted behind them and as he touched the ball away from the dive of keeper Kallum Lunn, the goalie took his legs away. To everyone’s astonishment and Farnham relief the referee signalled a goal kick instead of a penalty.
This was to be the first of a few curious decisions throughout the game for both teams.
A minute later and a dipping shot went close from Deabil but after 20 minutes the home side began to get their pacy forwards into the game and Abingdon were exposed being too square. In one attack Drew Matthews ran on to face Lee Farrow and tried to chip the ball over him but from 15 yards out put it over the bar when it looked to be dropping in.
The warning signs were there when a free header was sent straight at Farrow who parried it away. A minute later and the home side got their reward for their efforts with a good cross from the right whipped in and Elliott Cardona was there to lash it into the roof of the net.
Deabil sent in another dangerous header that was inches away and with 25 minutes gone OIdhiambo ghosted through after some quick play and he tried to lob Lunn but the goalie got up to tip the ball higher but as it fell behind him Odhiambo was there to head the ball goalwards and a desperate header from a defender could only help the ball over the line.
On the half hour another odd decision when a Town midfielder was tripped from behind and picked the ball up to place for the free kick. The referee signalled handball as he had not blown his whistle and booked the home player for his protest.
Farnham looked to have gone ahead soon after when a shot was drilled past Farrow but Mark Threlfall flew along the line and somehow got his head to it and cleared the danger.
The Deabil Odhiambo combination worked well again with the tall striker heading down and Anaclet struck a first timer a foot wide of the far post. In the next attack Tom Butler delivered a cross along the ground which Odhiambo flicked forward and into the goal only to be denied by the Assistant’s flag for offside.
Town struck back and another ball out of midfield found the unmarked Mark Corbett whose speed took him well clear and as Farrow came out he stroked the ball beyond his reach to give the home side the lead once again.
With half time looming United again allowed their opponents too much room up front but the shot was well parried by the diving Farrow and as Threlfall slid in to deny a second chance the ball came up and struck his hand and the referee awarded what seemed a harsh penalty. There were calls for a red card but he only got a yellow.
Corbett stood up to take the spot kick and he doesn’t miss many but Farrow guessed right and at full stretch blocked the kick and kept United in the game.
The second half produced fewer scares for both goals for around twenty minutes but the action then picked up again with Abingdon levelling the scores with a well crafted move inside the area ending with Tom Melledew crashing the ball home with a thunderous shot.
Deabil was denied as Lunn dived to turn his header away and Steve Davis saw his driven shot blocked on the line. Abingdon were going for the winner but couldn’t get another score and with five minutes of normal time the home side came out looking for a goal and it was a nervy time as they had numerous corners and free kicks around the area. Matt Glass in added on time had a go from 7 yards but Farrow pulled off a great save and as the ball was thumped towards the goal again it was Callum McNeil on the post who chested it away to great appeals for a handball which was turned down, but United survived to extra time.
Town continued to apply the pressure and Matt Glass got on the end of a pinpoint cross and he back flicked the ball and Farrow was relieved to see it hit the post and bounce up into his hands on the line.
McNeil made it difficult for his colleagues when he pulled back his opponent once too many and got a second yellow and his marching orders. This was his second red of the season and with numerous cautions as well he could face quite a few games watching from the stand.
Ten man Abingdon were not going to sit back and a flick on set up Deabil whose powerful shot put United into the lead for the first time with ten minutes left. Melledew took on and went through four defenders but his shot was cleared off the line.
Town threw everyone but the goalie up and with five minutes left a high ball was headed into the mix and a beautiful swivelling volley from Drew Matthews got the equaliser and after some edgy minutes the final whistle went on a very entertaining game and a replay awaits the Surrey side at the North Court.
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