FARNHAM TN 2, BRIDGWATER TN 3

THIS thrill-a-minute FA Vase encounter seemed destined to go to extra time after four goals and numerous near misses, but it was Somerset outfit Bridgwater who finally secured their passage into the third round for only the third time in the club’s history.

The 92nd-minute winner was a second goal for their best player, Ryan Burrows, who was only denied twice that tally by a superb display from Farnham keeper Ashley Giles.

In a storming start to the tie in front of 130 spectators at the Memorial Ground, Farnham quickly drew a fine save from Jake Viney, Bridgwater’s equally impressive goalkeeper.

Giles then charged off his line to foil Burrows who had sprinted clear from the halfway line. Seconds later, Burrows set up fellow striker Dave Pearse, but again Giles stood strong to block a close-range shot.

The pattern was set for a remarkably open game on a gloomy afternoon, despite a heavy surface after overnight rain.

Jack Dillon – scorer of Farnham’s winner at Colliers Wood three days before – played a lovely reverse pass to release Nick Medcraft who cleverly drew Viney off his line, only to push his final shot wide. Then Ashley Peck’s free-kick found defender Jordan Stepney storming in to head high at the far post.

Farnham kept the ball on the deck and played their way out of defence in impressive style, with left-back Tom Smith always eager to get forward.

And Town’s best move of the half deservedly gave them the lead on 31 minutes. Dillon, taking Smith’s precise pass, drilled a crossfield ball to Peck whose first-time shot was well stopped by Viney, but Medcraft followed up to fire home into the far corner.

Farnham almost held the lead until half-time, although the home goal lived a charmed life at times. Giles showed Gordon Banks-like reflexes to push away a Burrows shot which took an awkward deflection and then Mike Duffy, sent clear by a lucky ricochet, slotted past the advancing Giles, but past the far upright as well.

As the half went into added time, the Western Premier League side scored a timely equaliser. Stepney was adjudged to have pulled back Pearse and Duffy stayed calm under verbal pressure from the sidelines to thump home the penalty.

The second half was less flowing and more feisty, but still an absorbing spectacle. Farnham’s cause was not helped when their captain, Max Meaton, having received lengthy treatment earlier on, hobbled off after six minutes.

Bridgwater were on top at first and should have scored when the skilful Burrows left Pearse with what seemed a tap-in, only for that man Giles to again make himself big and save miraculously.

Elliott Cardona made an instant impact for Farnham. Latching onto a sliced clearance, the substitute saw his 25-yard shot swerve narrowly wide.

Play immediately swept to the other end and Burrows, with an excellent chance, dragged his shot wide. Bridgwater came again, though. After all his heroics, it was a scuffed clearance by Giles that was intercepted by Burrows and this time the number 9 made no mistake; 2-1 with 11 minutes to go.

The cockahoop away supporters were soon silenced. Bridgwater failed to clear Adam Horton’s deep free-kick and the ball fell to Cardona who blasted a spectacular shot in off the upright.

Neither side seemed inclined to settle for extra time and both pushed for a winner. The pace of the game finally seemed to take its toll on Farnham and gaps appeared in their hitherto disciplined defence. Burrows missed a free header at a corner, but showed his goal-scoring instinct deep into injury time. Substitute Shaun Copp slipped him through with a perfectly-weighted pass and Burrows coolly placed his shot past the valiant Giles.

The last shot of a game, struck sweetly by Cardona, was straight at Viney. Either side of the keeper, and it could have been another 30 minutes.

“I’m totally gutted,” said Farnham manager Paul Tanner. “I thought we definitely deserved at least extra time. But I’m very proud of what the players have achieved this season, considering the circumstances of how the squad has changed.

“Today, we lost to a very good side who would probably be in the top six of our league.”

Farnham: Giles, Flynn, Smith, Jordan Stepney, Ford, Spiers, Medcraft, Meaton (Slater 51), Peck (Cardona 67), A Horton (Josh Stepney 89), Dillon.

Bridgwater: Viney, Thorne (Holland 54), Begg, Govier, Robinson, Armstrong, Duffy (Copp 80), H Horton, Burrows (Jenkins 90), Pearse, Llewellyn.