COME ON YOU BEAVERS!

 

By Jack Lonergan

Hampton & Richmond Borough host Farnborough this afternoon (Friday, 3pm kick off) in another important clash at the bottom of the National League South table.

The Beavers will look to bounce back after defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge last time out on Non-League Day.

Beavers fans travelled in their numbers for one of the best away atmospheres we have had this season and will look to continue that atmosphere into this week’s clash back at home.

Farnborough couldn’t hold on for an important three points last time out against Hornchurch, conceding an equaliser in the 5^th minute of second half stoppage time to draw with the Urchins.

Last weekend’s results now mean that 20^th-placed Farnborough are just two points behind HRBFC’s tally of 46 in 19^th. 21st Chippenham Town is on 38 points, but they have won four of their last six and are not going down without a fight, making today’s  clash as big as they come with just five games to go in the league.

Farnborough are unbeaten in their last three, recording an impressive 4-2 win against Chelmsford City at home as well as beating Slough Town 2-0 in Hampshire the match prior.

However, their last win away from home came on the 10^th of March against a struggling Bath City side, and they have only recorded 3 away wins in the league all season.

This is largely due to a leaky defence, with the Yellows conceding the most goals in the league so far this season with 81.

They have conceded three or more goals on twelve occasions and have conceded five goals in four separate league games this season.

At the other end of the pitch, they have had more success, scoring the most goals out of all the teams not in the playoffs excluding Maidstone and Slough Town who each have scored one more than Farnborough’s 59.

Experienced striker Rakish Bingham is his side’s top scorer with 11 goals and former Beaver Mason Bloomfield after a period out of the team has four in his last eight to bring his season’s total to nine.

However, the man of the moment for Farnborough is winger Hakeem Sandah who has three goals in his last three games including a double against Chelmsford.

Comfortable on both flanks, he has 5 goals and 4 assists this season.

In the middle of the park there is a familiar face as former HRBFC loanee Alfie Tuck joined Farnborough on loan for the rest of season in February.

He has made eleven appearances for the Yellows so far.

Last time Farnborough came to the Bev it was that humbling 8-2 defeat at the end of last season, and you have to go back to February 2016 to find Hampton & Richmond Borough’s last win over the Yellows at the Bev.

However, earlier this season the Beavers beat Farnborough on Boxing Day 2-0, which was Max Kretzschmar’s second debut.

It is of course a quick turnaround this week and the importance of this match cannot be overstated given the makeup of the league table currently.

A win here could all-but-guarantee safety for Dowse’s men and the great support needs to continue!

Get your tickets HERE!

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