FARNHAM TN 2, GUILDFORD CITY 2

THE Yuletide Hog’s Back derby in the Combined Counties League ended honours even.

Played on a heavy Memorial Ground pitch with a generous growth of grass, it was not a game for the football purist, but was thoroughly entertaining for the 100-plus spectators and well refereed by Craig Kissi.

City had a large slice of the possession in the first half and could have scored as early as the third minute when Jack Battie’s shot was turned away by Matt Petts and, from the resulting corner, Martin Dynan headed inches wide.

Battie brought another good save from Petts, but Farnham were now probing City’s suspect defence and goalkeeper Luke Badiali was called into action as Matt Glass, in particular, began to cause problems for the visitors.

Badiali and Petts, the latter with an excellent double save, remained busy and as half-time approached, it was Farnham who made the breakthrough, rather against the run of play.

A long ball forward was headed back towards his own goal by James Davies, but Glass was alert to the situation and nipped in to intercept and go round Badiali to pass into an empty net.

With a goal under their belts, Farnham upped the ante in the second half and City were pushed back on their heels for long periods.

Town should have doubled their lead, James Thomas blazing over from a good position, and that let-off brought a good response from Guildford.

Substitute Harry Driver gave City a new lease of life and the equaliser came on 72 minutes. Sanchez Benali crossed from the right and Connor French’s diving header flew past Petts.

Again, careless defending threatened to undo Guildford’s hard work and only a full-stretch save from Badiali kept them on level terms.

City failed to learn their lesson and, on 87 minutes, Farnham appeared to secure the points.

Another deep ball was pumped down the right channel and that man Glass again escaped the attention of the City defence to calmly slot past Badiali.

It was the 57th goal conceded by Guildford this season, a total exceeded only by bottom side Cove.

However, there is no denying City’s fighting spirit and, right on 90 minutes, Matt Anton set up Connor French who blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner, much to the jubilation of the travelling supporters.

Both sides went for the win during a lengthy spell of stoppage time, but a point apiece was about the right result on the day.

“From my point of view, we should have been three up at half-time”, said Town manager Paul Tanner. “I keep saying that there are times in a game when if you score you win the game. We keep missing out, but overall four points out of six isn’t too bad.”