Farnborough 0 United 0 United and Farnborough cancelled each other out on Tuesday evening, as the two sides played out a goalless draw in Hampshire. Gary Johnson made three changes from the side beaten at Braintree on Saturday, as Kevin Dawson, Aaron Jarvis & Ronny Nelson were brought into the starting line up, with Nelson making his full debut. Duane Ofori-Acheampong & Brad Ash dropped to the bench, where also making his return to the United squad following his hamstring injury was Jack Stobbs. In what was a scrappy start to proceedings, neither side were initially able to throw if the shackles to create any clear-cut chances, although a lashed effort over the crossbar from a tight angle saw Farnborough’s Ricky Holmes set his sights on the United goal on 15 minutes. The Gulls gradually imposed themselves, and came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute, as Dawson laid the ball off to Will Jenkins Davies on the edge of the box, before the on-loan Plymouth man drilled a low shot into the side netting.
Although the hosts were bossing the possession stakes, the Torquay backline remained composed, and dealt with everything thrown at them with the minimum amount of fuss. A 35-yard free-kick from Boro’s Ollie Pendlebury on 42 minutes was the next opening of note, however the long-range effort had a little too much on it, as it cleared Halstead’s crossbar. As the game headed towards the interval though, it was Johnson’s side who were looking the more threatening. United looked certain to score on 44 minutes, as Marshall’s clearance sent Lapslie clear inside the box, and although The Gulls’ No.4 saw his run ended with a last-ditch challenge, Jarvis looked to fire home the rebound, before a combination of keeper & defenders saw the ball cleared away at the last. Moments later, McGavin fired over from just outside the box, however it remained goalless at the break.
Read more
