FARNHAM TN 1, ABBEY RANGERS 0

FARNHAM continue to move in the right direction in the Combined Counties League Premier Division, this being their third straight win in all competitions.

And Town’s upturn in form comes as no surprise to Paul Tanner. “The improvement is no more than I expected six or eight weeks ago with the young and talented squad we have,” said the manager.

However, he admitted that his “blood was boiling” when Jordan Stepney got himself sent off, leaving Farnham to play most of the game with 10 men.

Goaded by the Abbey players, Stepney failed to keep his discipline and picked up two stupid yellow cards, earning himself a very early shower.

The centre-half has been one of Farnham’s best players since joining the club and his exit left Tanner with a real headache. His decision to switch to 4-4-1 was doubtless aimed at salvaging a point, but, as it sometimes happens, the depleted side went on to play the better football.

The ball-players stepped up to influence the game and Abbey struggled to deal with Farnham’s fluid counter-attacks.

Town were also solid and organised at the back, so much so that the visitors’ 11 men had just two serious shots at goal.

Farnham bided their time, a clean sheet being the main priority, but their eventual reward was a 79th-minute winner from a very swift attack.

Adam Horton left his full-back standing and played an early ball deep into the penalty area. Ashley Peck took the ball out of the air with a deft touch and laid it into the path of the oncoming Nick Medcraft who calmly beat the advancing keeper.

Town maintained their defensive shape to deny Abbey, although it took a superb one-handed save from Adrian Giles to make sure of the three points.

• This Saturday, Farnham entertain Lymington in the first round proper of the FA Vase. Lymington are sixth in the Sydenhams Wessex League, but were unable to score at bottom side Petersfield last weekend, the Rams earning a 0-0 draw.