FARNHAM TOWN 0, BEDFONT SPORTS 0

AFTER Saturday’s disappointment at North Greenford, Farnham showed fight, grit and determination to hold Combined Counties League high-flyers Bedfont Sports to a goalless draw at the Memorial ground on Tuesday.

The visitors had scored 16 goals in their previous three league games, so it was to Town’s credit that despite a lengthy injury and illness list, they managed to keep a clean sheet. In fact, and it wasn’t until injury time that Adrian Giles had to make a serious save.

Bedfont had most of the possession in the first half, but a combination of wayward finishing, dogged defending and, on one occasion, the crossbar denied them any reward.

Farnham threatened on the break and some great persistence from recent signing Luke Perkins forced keeper Scott Harris into a mistake that left the forward with a clear sight of goal. But with Harris rushing back to cover, Perkins put his shot high and wide.

The second half followed a similar pattern, although Farnham started to see more of the ball as Bedfont pushed forward and left gaps at the back. The home side concentrated their attacks down the left, but the final touch was never quite there.

Bedfont, looking to close the gap on leaders Westfield, found the Farnham defence in imperious form, with the young centre-back pairing of George Spiers and Jordan Stepney hardly putting a foot wrong all game.

On a bitterly cold night, the visitors took advantage of a tiring Town defence as the game moved into added time, but Giles produced two stunning saves, the second just moments before the final whistle.

Farnham can take heart from this gritty performance ahead of Saturday’s home meeting with fourth-placed Sutton Common (ko 3pm).

NORTH GREENFORD 2, FARNHAM 1

FARNHAM returned pointless from Middlesex on Saturday, despite North Greenford having goalkeeper Lucasz Jasiorski sent off after only four minutes.

Jasiorski appeared to lose his bearings and fell on the ball outside his area, handling it in the process. With Farnham on the attack, the keeper was adjudged to be the last man and referee Mike Coen had no hesitation in showing a red card.

Central defender Charlie Connor donned the jersey and proved a reliable stand-in as he kept a clean sheet.

But Farnham should have used their one-man advantage better. They dominated at first, but Greenford re-organised efficiently and took the lead against the run of play after 20 minutes. And it was a bad goal for the Town defence as Guy Ansah-Palmer rose to head home powerfully from a Ryan Murphy corner.

Greenford had to work hard to protect their lead and Farnham were unlucky when a shot from Elliott Cardona struck the crossbar.

Greenford’s depleted side came out to dominate the second half and made and missed some excellent chances.

With 12 minutes to go, the Blues got the killer second goal. It was a superb individual effort, but another poor one for the Town rearguard as Nathaniel Mensah was allowed to work his way across the penalty area before placing the ball past Adrian Giles.

On the stroke of full time, Farnham showed what might have been with an incisive counter-attack, well finished by Jordan Stepney.