Bedfont & Feltham 0, Farnham Town 1

RELIEF was the word that sprang to mind for boss Luke Turkington as battling Farnham Town earned a big three points at Bedfont & Feltham on Saturday.

New striker Jack May, who last season was plying his trade at Badshot Lea, scored the only goal of the game on ten minutes when he rose unmarked at the back post to direct a firm header into the net from close range.

For Turkington, the early goal briefly brought back memories of this month’s two compelling FA Cup ties in which Town led in both games before bowing out in a replay at the Memorial Ground.

“We started really well and I thought we kept going well,” he said, “but I wondered if it might be one of those moments again where it’s going to be third time unlucky.

“When you go into the lead within the first quarter of an hour and you think that the last two games you have had the lead and got nothing out of it there’s always those little thoughts ‘are we going to do it again?’ particularly as our strikeforce wasn’t firing properly.

“But looking back at it now, it was such a good win. We’ll be looking back at this and seeing just how good a result it was. They are going to be a top four side. Away from home I would have snapped your hand off if we had taken a point, but we got all three.”

May’s first-half goal, his first for his new club, was protected by a sterling performance from goalkeeper Dease Kerrison and the back four, especially fellow newcomer Mo Sabo, who was outstanding at the heart of the defence.

And Turkington was quick to praise the efforts not only of his effective back line but also the work put in by his midfield dynamos who worked tirelessly to keep a decent Bedfont side, who had two efforts ruled out in quick succession late in the first half, on the back foot.

“Usually it’s the strikers who get all the accolades,” he said, “but actually it’s got to go to the midfielders who dictated the game and dominated the game in the middle, and the back line who were resilient in not letting them through.

“I thought against Fleet last Tuesday Harry Oakley was man of the match, at Bedfont it goes to the other central defender, Mo Sabo. I was really pleased with their performances. Mo’s a good asset to the club and we’re lucky to have him on board, and hopefully we can continue that form on Saturday.”

New midfield duo Joe Sowden and skipper Jacob McDonald have really added some steel and flair to Farnham’s play and both stood out again on Saturday with their never-say-die attitude at the curiously quirky ground which sits directly under the Heathrow Airport flightpath.

“We created chances, which is always good to see, but when it’s not going in the back of the net, when you should be out of sight in the first half, it does make you worry,” said Turkington, who was sent off 20 minutes from time after “uttering some profanities” at his players which the assistant referee mistakenly thought were aimed at him.

“Sometimes we rely on the strikers too much to get the job done. I’m glad that we are making the chances but when it comes to the games against the teams in the top half, when it really matters, we need to convert more into goals.”

Matt Glass had decent sights of goal shortly before and after half-time to double Town’s lead, while Kerrison made an outstanding save late on to deny Bedfont’s prolific striker Michael Capon and seal the win.

Farnham now face two games in three days – at home to Sandhurst Town on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) and away at Cove on Bank Holiday Monday (kick-off 11.30am) – as they look to build on their perfect league start.

Farnham Town: Kerrison, Mitchell, Brainch (Bowles 89), Sharratt, Sabo, H Oakley, Sowden, McDonald, C Oakley, Glass (Nash 84), May (Whiddett 64). Subs (not used): Peel.