This final was a Orpington & Bromley League match up as Farnborough are in the Premier Division while Sporting are in the Third.

The game started with Farnborough having the first half chance when in the 4th minute Connor Blackman tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot was saved by Max Hewitt, then in the next minute Sporting took the lead when a ball on the left was crossed low for Sam Venables to side foot in from 6 yards.

Farnborough were stunned but this as their defence had been rock solid all season. Two minutes later they had a half chance when Kevin Lott saw his free kick from 25 yards fly over the bar.

In the 9th minute Sporting had a chance to increase their lead when Josh Patrick laid the ball into the path of Sam McHattie but from 18 yards his scuffed shot and it was easily saved by Charlie Merrick. In the 12th minute Steve Townsend racing onto a through ball, but saw his stretching shot saved by Hewitt.

Three minutes later and it could or should have been two when Hewitt’s long kick saw Patrick out muscle the defender and the run forward towards goal but from 15 yards his shot went wide, would they rue that chance.

In the 20th minute a Mike Cole free kick from the left by-line forced Hewitt under pressure to punch clear. Another chance for Sporting came in the 33rd minute when Patrick disposed the defender and saw Merrick off his line so he tried to chip him but Merrick was just able to tip it over the bar.

With half time getting close Farnborough got the equaliser when in the 43rd minute free kick to the back post found Matt Reynolds and his close range header came back off the post and Townsend reacted the quickest and stabbed home. This goal would change both managers’ words of wisdom.

The second half was only two minutes old when Farnborough took the lead when Paul Lee received the ball on halfway and then went forward with no defenders closing him down, he then saw his 20 yard shot curl into the bottom right hand corner.

Six minutes later Steve McQueen was put through by Lee but from an acute angle his shot went across the goal. Another chance went a begging in the 59th minute when McQueen combined with Lee and his shot in the area was parried away.

Sporting were now relying on set plays or breakaways. In the 63rd minute an Ant Collins free kick found Patrick but his header went wide, ten minutes later Daniel Murray on the left wing saw his cross met by Patrick but again it went wide.

Three minutes later and it was game over when Townsend was put through raced into the area and coolly lifted the ball over Hewitt.

In the 80th minute Townsend completed his hat trick when McQueen in the area saw his shot from 8 yards punched clear but only to Townsend who volleyed it in. In the 90th minute it got worse for Sporting as Venables received his second yellow card and was sent off. 

FARNBOROUGH OLD BOYS GUILD:

C.MERRICK 4. C.RALPH 5. M.REYNOLDS 6. D.MARTIN 7. M.COLE 9. S.TOWNSEND 10. M.HORNE

16. K.LOTT 17. C.BLACKMAN 50. S.McQUEEN

SUBS ROTATED: 3. T.TOWNSEND 5. T.RUSH 15. R.JENKINS 18. L.LEE

BOOKINGS: 10. M.HORNE (20) 17. C.BLACKMAN (38)

SPORTING CLUB THAMESMEAD:

M.HEWITT 2. D.FULLER 3. J.WOOD 4. A.COLLINS 5. T.HILL 6. A.PHILLIPS 7. S.VENABLES

8. D.HARMAN 9. J.PATRICK 10. S.McHATTIE 11. G.LUDGROVE

SUBS ROTATED: 12. D.MURRAY 13. T.ECUYER 14. T.BUNTON 15. S.YOUNG 16. C.CROSS

BOOKINGS: 7. S.VENABLES (25 & 90) 9. J.PATRICK (89)

SENT OFF: S.VENABLES (90)

REFEREE: Mr T.OSBORN

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.BROMLEY & Mr. H.GRAHAM

4TH OFFICIAL: Mr P.WEBB

After the game I spoke briefly with the winning Manager Matt Ellis, he stated that before the match he wanted his team to get a fast start but that that had not happened as Sporting came out the quickest, but at half time a few words were said asking them if they wanted it, they then went and showed the crowd what they were about and also keeping up their four goals a game average and they were now looking to do the double.

Picture supplied by PSP Images.