9/4/2008

Sport

Darren dazzles as Fleet see off Boro in cup clash

by Chris Harris

A GAME that was high on entertainment if not intensity saw Fleet Town progress to the semi-finals of the Aldershot Senior Cup, beating local rivals Farnborough 4-2 at Cherrywood Road.

With both sides facing big league games tomorrow neither side was ever likely to be playing at full throttle, and so it proved with barely a tackle of any note throughout the match.

But there was some neat and attractive football on show, and the six goals would certainly have kept the 200-strong crowd happy.

After a poor performance against AFC Hayes last weekend, Fleet boss Andy Sinton fielded a strong line-up, with eight of Saturday’s starters beginning the match.

Boro boss Andy Clement, in the knowledge that two wins in his side’s next league matches will guarantee winning the BGB Southern 1 South & West title, took a different approach. Only Luke Evans took to the field from the 11 that dismantled Andover 6-0 in Boro’s last league outing.

So perhaps it was little surprise that both managers were happy with their teams’ respective performances.

Sinton was pleased to get his side’s lifeless effort against Hayes out of the players’ system.

“I mixed up the starting line-up as much as I could, but with five players pulling out between the weekend and today, I had to change the team I had in mind,” he said. “It was a little bit of getting Hayes out of the system, but we are not thinking about that game, and I’m delighted with the win.

“We made it a little bit hard on ourselves and gave away two poor goals.

“After going 2-0 up we let them back in it, and then again at 3-1, and that is a bit of an achilles heel for us. We lack that little bit of killer instinct at times.

“For 80% of the game I was really pleased, and 20% perhaps not so much. But it was an entertaining game between two good sides, and I think probably the best two in the league, so I’m happy to get through.”

Sinton added: “To be fair there was never going to be the same intensity as in the league games.

“It was a quarter-final of a lesser cup competition, and it didn’t quite have that edge. We knew that and you send your side out with instructions on how to deal with that.”

Clement too was content with his players’ efforts and said after the game: “At this stage of the season it wasn’t too serious a game, and we have a few knocks and bruises.

“I had to play a few more of the first team than I wanted after a couple of the reserves pulled out, but in fairness it was quite a good game.

“Particularly in the second half I thought we did well and looked dangerous. Maybe we could have made it 3-3 with one cleared off the line, but some good things came out of the game.

“It could have been a bit of a disappointing game but it was entertaining and in the last 25 minutes it maybe could have gone either way.

“We came through it without any knocks, apart from a cut to Adam’s [Theo] eye, and we had a chance to look at a few youngsters as well, so overall it was pleasing.”

Boro’s host of changes saw a debut for young defender Jason Greenwood, and only a second start for Dave Stevens. Marcus Richardson and Paul Harkness led the line after neither had started the last league match.

Sinton brought in Sam Pearce and Steve Hemmings at the back in place of skipper Steve Noakes and Mark Paterson, with Darren Campbell preferred to Nathan Smart in midfield.

The visitors made the more assured start, when Ben Wright’s volley was held by Justin Gray in the Boro goal.

It was only Adam Theo’s second game of the season for Farnborough, and it ended after just five minutes with a nasty cut above his eye needing stitches.

While he was off the field Fleet took full advantage and opened the scoring. James Field’s set-piece prowess is arguably the best in the league, and despite Gray knowing all about the midfielder’s ability from his time at Calthorpe Park, he could do little as Field whipped a trademark freekick round the wall and into the corner.

Fleet carried much more threat up front despite both sides enjoying some decent possession, and it was little surprise when Sinton’s men doubled their lead.

Wright had flashed another effort just wide of goal before Field’s low cross was only partially cleared to the edge of the area. Campbell escaped Stevens’ attentions to drill a low, accurate drive into the corner for 2-0.

At that point Fleet looked like they may run away with the game, with Wright’s curling strike testing a rather shaky looking Gray again, but the home side edged their way back into the game.

On the stroke of half time Boro twice should have halved the deficit. First, good play by Aaron Wise in midfield set substitute Leigh Rumbold free down the right. His low cross found its way to the onrushing Stevens, who smashed his shot just over the bar.

In stoppage time, Harkness whipped in a corner from the right, and Evans’ header was turned off the line by his own team-mate, Byron Bubb.

After the break Fleet made another bright start, with Wright’s volley well saved and Pearce heading Field’s freekick over the bar.

But Boro passed the ball well in midfield, and probably should have equalised when Harkness just failed to latch onto Steven’s low cross.

A rash of substitutions didn’t interrupt the flow of the game, and Boro made it interesting in the 68th minute when Richardson powerfully rolled Will Salmon, burst through and neatly slotted past Paul Smith for his 17th goal of the season.

But, no sooner were Boro back in the game, they were out of it again, Fleet went straight up the other end and from a Field corner, Richardson was judged to have handled in the area. Substitute Adam Wallace made no mistake from the spot, easily beating Gray for 3-1.

Suddenly the game was end to end stuff, and Fleet should have settled things when they were awarded a dubious second penalty after Evans pushed his man. Perhaps justice was done, as Gray easily held substitute Eddie Smith’s poor spot kick.

The arrival of Nic Ciardini from the bench gave Boro a bit more impetus in midfield, and with seven minutes to go he was on hand to smash the ball home. Richardson evaded Paul Smith’s mad dash from his goal and pulled the ball into Ciardini’s path and he fired home through a crowded box.

Boro went looking for the equaliser, and Michael Barima’s shot was tipped over the bar, but Fleet were dangerous every time they came forward and they sealed the win in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Campbell seized on Stevens’ loose pass and skipped by two tackles before calmly knocking the ball past Gray to book Fleet’s semi-final spot.

It was an enjoyable end to the match, and the referee was clearly enjoying it as well, which can be the only reason for his decision to add on nine extra minutes of injury time.

But it mattered little and it is Fleet who deservedly progress to the semi-finals, where they will travel to Ashford Town at the end of this month.

Boro: Gray, Evans, Marshall, Greenwood (Oliver), Theo (Rumbold), Wise (Ciardini), Barima, Bubb, Richardson, Harkness, Stevens.

Fleet: Paul Smith, Salmon (John), Jack Smith, Pearce, Hemmings, Field, Howell, Damien Smith, CAMPBELL, Wright (Wallace), Anderson (Eddie Smith).

For player ratings, more from Sinton on the Boro/Fleet rivalry, plus previews of the two side's big weekend games, pick up a copy of this Friday's Farnborough/Fleet News.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail