Match Preview | Farnham Town

Farnham Town vs Tiverton Town

Saturday 13th December 3pm Kick off

The Memorial Ground

Two and a half weeks on from the Yellows last outing, the scintillating 5-5 draw away at Poole, the team will be hoping when they lace up their boots against play-off placed Farnham to upset the odds and add much needed points to their cause. Two postponed home games meaning this will be Tiverton’s fifth successive away league game. Shortly before this Asa Hall and Steve Orchard integrated four new signings into the squad. Although the shortage of competitive matches hasn’t made this ideal for them or their new team-mates, they will have had time on the training ground to familiarise themselves with the players and to focus on the task in hand. 

Yellows’ fans will also be wondering if this extended period without games, may have helped in bringing back a few bodies from the treatment table. Dan Koita a second half substitute at Poole should come into contention for a starting berth, but will face competition from Aiden Horne, who provided a brace in his absence from much of that evening. 

Ryan Keates was at the heart of a lot of Tivvy’s best play as an attacking force then and with highly rated Torquay keeper Matt Wonnacott and talented ex Gulls youngster Jack Kennell also making a promising start in Yellow, freshening things up could yet see a reversal in fortunes. 

Farnham were one of the bigger spenders in preparation for their first campaign in this division and wisely added a core of players who are proven at this level to the squad that earned promotion last term. Overseeing team affairs is Paul Johnson, whose back-to-back promotions with the club indicate exciting, successful times and a progressive manager and outfit. 

Johnson is building something with the Town. The goals have been shared around the team. Striker Ogo Obi has six of them and the former Watford trainee is a noted name on the non-league circuit. Wealdstone, Slough, Maidstone and Hemel Hempstead have all made use of the potent frontman’s services. Hendon, Hayes & Yeading and Chesham at our level have been previous destinations. 

An eye-catching capture in the close season was that of Bobby-Joe Taylor. The tricky wide man was a loanee with Walton & Hersham last season from parent club Dorking Wanderers. However, if you delve back into his senior career, Taylor played in the EFL for Cambridge United and has made numerous appearances in the National League. Beginning in the academies of Chelsea and Gillingham, he has 209 National League games to his name, most recently with Dorking, but additionally with Cambridge, Aldershot, Maidstone, Bromley and Dover. Still only 30 he has plenty to offer at this level. Taylor has also supplied 5 league goals for the Town. 

Mentioned as much for his hold up play and assists as much as finding the net himself, striker Adam Liddle is a big performer for the Surrey side and has played a huge part over the past three seasons in securing two promotions. Previously he has played further up the pyramid for Chelmsford City and Eastbourne Borough whilst he was an apprentice with Reading and latterly a step higher with Hungerford. 

Although it’s in Farnham’s midfield that I believe Johnson has assembled a strong department of proven performers. Matt Mackenzie an integral part of Hanwell’s success in this standard of football was prized away from the London club and I have for a long time been impressed by the powerfully built central midfielder who is in type reminiscent of Tom Huddlestone and a good footballer. 

Love Islander Harry Cooksley is a very cultured midfielder. He made a single appearance in the EFL for Aldershot at the start of his foray into senior football. A mainstay of this Farnham side in their pursuit of glory, he was also a pro at AFC Wimbledon and has spent time in both Spanish and Austrian football. The 31-year-old who was a runner up in the reality show, has also worn the colours of Farnborough and Hartley Wintney. 

Beaux Booth began the campaign with Sholing and the gifted technical player has started impressively at the Town, as Johnson continues to strengthen his squad. Attacking midfielder Darryl Sanders will also be at the managers disposal. Signed from Bracknell, following a strong season with them in the 2022/23 campaign, he is another to have been part of Farnhams rise to this division. 

Defensive midfielder Imran Uche is a towering presence, standing at 6ft 5 tall, he has a penchant for breaking up play and is also a gifted playmaker. Uche’s football travels have taken him to Hampton & Richmond, Eastbourne Borough and Aveley in National League South. He has additionally played for Harrow Borough, Northwood and Rayners Lane. 

The Surrey sides backline also possesses a lot of quality. Defender Tom Leggett is an example of that. The 29-year-old spent four seasons with Farnborough and then following being promoted with Salisbury, last term plied his trade, a step higher with the Wiltshire team and brings invaluable experience into the home side’s dressing room. 

Fellow defender Dan Bayliss should be very comfortable playing in this division too. Starting the campaign in the division above for Chesham, Bayliss was a regular fixture in Bracknell’s team for a number of seasons. The 2023/24 and 2024/2025 campaign’s saw the accomplished player, become a mainstay at Slough. 

The well-trodden path from Bracknell to Farnham, also saw the arrival of Jack Dean in the 2023/24 season, in what appears to be an established defensive unit. Dean is an ever present for the Town this term. 

A familiar visitor to The Slee Blackwell Stadium is the current number one at The Memorial Ground. Michael Eacott was part of the losing Bracknell team that travelled to us earlier in the campaign. The much-admired former Robin played nearly 150 times over 3 and a bit seasons for the Sandhurst based side. 

Asa Hall is still looking to bolster his squad further, but one player who has decided to move on is Finn Rooke. He showed good ability in his stay with the Yellows, but lack of game time has prompted a move elsewhere. We wish him all the best in his football future. 

Can the Yellows give their fans some seasonal cheer at the weekend? It has become an uphill climb in what has thus far been a testing season, but plenty of points remain to play for.