Sutton Common Rovers first team turned in a disappointing performance on their way to a second successive 3-0 defeat, this time at home to Farnham Town writes Gary Brigden.
White and Francois Gabbidon then almost got in on the Farnham left, but again Evans defended well, and the ball cleared. Farnham's James Thomas then whipped in a dangerous cross, which Bowden gathered well under pressure from John Lancashire. Lancashire then shot wide of the left hand post after Nemo Adams had only half cleared a long free kick.
Liam Holden fired straight at keeper Matt Petts on 12 minutes, and on 15 minutes great interplay between Max Meaton and Ross Cheek set up Tom Smith but he put his shot wide of the right hand post. Farnham continued to hold the upper hand, Tom Smith did well to beat Kieran Wright, but the pull back to Cheek was comfortable for Bowden.
Cheek fired and effort straight at Bowden on 22 minutes, and then more good work between Meaton and Cheek, led to a low cross being well defended by Dave Burton. Back at the other end, and White challenged keeper Petts and forced a corner. From Richie Smith's kick, Farnham didn't clear properly and Gabbidon's low drive was well saved by Petts with his legs.
Smith fired wide on 25 minutes as SCR started to get on top, and two minutes later good work between Holden and David Takui almost released White, but Petts did well to get their ahead of the forward and clear the danger.
Bowden saved a low Nick Hammett shot on the half hour, and Smith went close for SCR following a half cleared corner. Smith should have fired SCR ahead on 39 minutes, having roasted Meaton for the umpteenth time in the half, however his final touch was too heavy and Petts was out sharply to save.
Farnham took the lead five minutes before the break, a long ball by Evans was picked up by Hammett, who cut inside Burton and crashed home a great strike into the top corner. Gabbidon should have levelled almost immediately, but failed to pull the trigger, and at the other end both Lancashire and Cheek were left with free strikes at goal, but both failed to increase the Farnham lead, and half time came with the visitors 1-0 up.
SCR started the second half fairly brightly with neat link between White and Gabbidon almost forcing an opening, but at the other end Farnham should have increased the lead when a great cross by Matt Graham found Thomas with a free header at the back stick, but somehow he failed to make it 2-0. In the incident, Anson Cousins found himself flattened by Bowden, and despite trying to stay on the full back was quickly replaced by Todd Sullivan.
SCR again should have levelled when neat play by Takui saw him release Gabbidon. The powerful forward got beyond Tom Smith and delivered a great cross but no SCR head was on hand to turn it home.
Holden saw a shot deflected wide on 55 minutes, and from the corner Burton headed wide of the right hand post.
Farnham went close on the hour when good work by Hammett saw him bounce through a few challenges, only to be denied by Adams, the ball though was only half cleared and Cheek again wriggled through a few challenges before being denied by Wright.
Farnham increased their lead in slightly contentious circumstances, when Sparks poked home from close range following a corner. No issues with the goal, but the decision to award a corner in the first place looked harsh, as Adams appeared to have played the ball off Hemmett.
Graham fired high and wide from midway in the SCR half, and then neat play between Takui and Gabbidon led to a Holden strike being comfortable for Petts. SCR should have been back in the game on 67 minutes, when a deep Holden free kick was headed back across goal to White, but his effort from close range was straight at Petts, when anywhere else would have seen a goal.
With just under 20 minutes remaining Farnham made it 3-0 when Evans rose highest to thump home a header.
Hammett headed wide on 80 minutes as Farnham looked to increase their goal tally and with five minutes remaining a long Adams throw dropped to substitute Richie Monan, but his shot was deflected wide, and from the corner, Adams header was off target.
SCR ended strongly, Adams and Holden both had chances to notch a consolation, but there efforts were off target, and full time came with Farnham 3-0 winners.
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