BASINGSTOKE TOWN 0 FARNBOROUGH TOWN 1
A 76th minute strike by Warren McBean was enough to give Farnborough a third successive 1-0 victory over Basingstoke at the Fitness First stadium in front of 943 spectators, and although the Camrose Blues provided game opposition, it was Farnborough who always looked the likelier to win the trophy.
In a first-half, the containment exercise of Francis Vines side paid off, although chances for the Camrose Blues were very much at a premium against a well-drilled Farnborough side, who were unbeaten in fifteen matches prior to the Final.
Their local rivals, were superior in keeping possession and passing and showed plenty of confidence going forward with the midfield trio of Warren McBean, Tyron Smith and Ashley Sestanovich dictating things for the majority of the first half.
Frankie Grays side, after withstanding an early spell of Basingstoke pressure in the first minute, started to build with confidence, and created several good openings. McBean, who scored against the Camrose Blues in the league this season, was off-target on a couple of occasions. Sestanovich dragged an excellent opportunity wide of Stuart Searles right-hand upright, former Stoke midfielder Steve Laidler intercepted a wayward pass by Lewis Cook but failed to test the Basingstoke keeper from 25 yards. Tyron Smith almost embarrassed Searle with an audacious lob from 45 yards, but with the goalkeeper stranded off his line, he was relieved to watch the ball drop onto the roof of the net. Carl Gibbs and McBean were combining well going forward, and they combined a couple of times to good effect. Both players though failed to trouble Searle, and even when Sestanovich put McBean in on goal, the striker drove against the outside of the post. Basingstokes attacks were few and far between, but twice managed to go close. David Ray found his way past his marker on the right flank, and centred towards Ben Wright, who flicked on into the danger area. Farnborough skipper Mark Rooney, facing his own goal sliced dangerously over his own bar from 6 yards with James Taylor lurking behind him. In first half stoppage time, Ben Wright had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock from David Rays ball over the top of the defence. He got goalside of the Farnborough defence, only for Scriven to block his effort from point-blank range - The first save by either keeper of any note.
The second half began with Basingstoke enjoying slightly more of the game, and after Taylors routine header was easily dealt with by Scriven, Ben Wright got another great opportunity to score on counter from Ricci Dolans pass. After outpacing Jay Gasson, he forced an excellent save out of the Farnborough keeper at his near post. Farnborough did much less in an attacking sense after the break, but the Camrose Blues lost concentration on a couple of occasions, and ultimately paid the price. Gibbs lost Neville Stamp on the corner of the box with a quick turn, and his cross found Sestanovich, who saw his goalbound shot hooked away by Danny Brown. With fourteen minutes remaining came the defining moment of the game. A free-kick was sent into the box from 25 yards out, Searle opted to punch but didnt get enough on it, and substitute Matt Pattison nodded the ball back into the danger area where McBean was left unmarked to stab past the exposed keeper.
Basingstoke threw everything into attack for a final assault on the Farnborough goal, but James Taylor was unable to convert Lewis Cooks cross with a diving header as time run out for Francis Vines men, putting the ball just the wrong side of the post. |
