A goal at either end of the game from Dave Sadler and Michael Gash saw City progress to the next round of this year’s FA Trophy and make up to an extent for last weekend’s disappointing result.

Paul Booth in aerial combat

Having lost to Farnborough in the league seven days earlier, this was always going to be a tough challenge given City’s threadbare squad, a squad further weakened by the absence of recent signing Greg Lincoln, who was cup-tied. City were also still without Matt Langston and Mark Molesley, both injured, plus winger Dale Binns who was serving the final game of his suspension. In came youngster, Lee Wilson, for his first full appearance at full-back, a move that saw Lee Flynn pushed up to occupy a place in wide midfield. Striker, Robbie Simpson continued to fill in for Molesley in the midfield.

Given all the disruptions to the side, City started brightly and had the perfect start with a goal after only five minutes. A foul on Craig Dobson gave Craig Pope the chance to pump a free-kick deep into the Farnborough half, Robbie Simpson rose to flick on but made no contact, the ball bouncing through to Sadler who had nipped in behind. He made no mistake from a tight angle, rifling the ball past an exposed Kevin Scriven in the home goal.

Farnborough had showed the previous week that they could pass the ball well and they proved it again after falling behind by controlling a lot of the play, limiting City to sporadic forays upfield. However, despite their possession, they failed to create anything of note, with City looking extremely comfortable in defence a couple of weak shots fielded by Danny Naisbitt were all the threat posed. In fact it was City who could have added to the scoring after 20 minutes. A lofted ball into the box was not dealt with by the home defence and Jay Gasson made a complete hash of clearing the danger, presenting a chance to Robbie Simpson who’s drive from 18 yards shaved the post.

Craig Dobson is closed down

There was a rare scare in the City area a few minutes later as Matt Warner headed a free-kick into the danger area. Naisbitt was smartly off his line as Carl Gibbs raced in, the City keeper only just getting to the ball ahead of the striker but doing enough not to allow him any control of the ball.

The half was summed up for the home side in the final minute when Tyron Smith, who had been probably Farnborough’s best player, sliced a quite hopeless shot high over Naisbitt’s cross-bar.

City were quickly out of the blocks after the interval. Dobson showed quality to avoid two tackles in the midfield before scampering free and finding Paul Booth. City’s top scorer wasted no time in cutting inside and shooting goalwards, his shot going a couple of feet wide.

The pattern of the game continued from the first half with Farnborough enjoying the lion’s share of possession but failing to do much with it. Both sides lacked the apparent quality to bring any real excitement or goalmouth action to the game to warm the sparse crowd.

It took a full twenty five minutes of the second half before Farnborough finally raised their game above the mediocre but it was to be a brief moment of quality. Warner, up supporting the attack, received the ball on the corner of the area, looking up he spotted Naisbitt a little off his line and attempted a curler to the far top corner. Naisbitt did well to react and grab the ball from under the bar, falling awkwardly as he came under challenge from Gibbs.

Robbie Simpson applies a little pressure to the home goal

Gibbs saw a bobbling half hit shot dribble harmlessly wide before Michael Gash, on as a replacement for Booth, forced Scriven to get down superbly to turn his close range effort around the post although the flag had already gone up for offside.

Moments later, City failed to make the most of a good opening. Making good ground on the left, Gash moved inside before drawing an defender and slipping the ball into an unmarked Sadler, unfortunately, he dwealt a second too long and Gasson was able to nip in and take the ball off his toe at the expense of a corner.

It wasn’t long before Gash was again involved, and this time it was decisive. With three minutes of normal time left, Scott Canham’s attempted flick gifted the ball to Sadler, he fed Gash who advanced into the box, avoiding two challenges before beating Scriven with a low drive.

The goal prompted an mass exodus of home fans and City had no trouble in seeing out the remainder of the game that included six and a half minutes of time added on, despite the 4th official signalling that there would be only three.

Now City look to the Christmas period and the two clashes with local rival’s Histon. City will be without Craig Pope on Boxing Day, who will be suspended, but there is good news with Binns coming back in and both Langston and Molesley rated as having a good chance of being fit.