Boro break Wessex fortress
By Matt Pitman

Monday 20th February 2006

CASH-STRAPPED Farnborough Town proved money can't always buy success by condemning the big spending Terras to a surprise defeat.

Frank Gray's play-off hopefuls stunned the Conference South leaders and became the first side to win at the Wessex Stadium in the league in almost a year.

The Hampshire club's shock victory made a mockery of the two clubs contrasting financial situations.

In a week when the Terras got the cheque book out again to sign former Premiership striker' Dean Holdsworth, four of Farnborough's players went without a month's wages.

But none of that mattered as the visitors guts and determination helped them become the first victorious side at Radipole Lane in the league since Newport County on March 19 last year.

Chief architect behind the conquering of Garry Hill's full-timers was one-time Terras target Ashley Sestanovich who was tracked by former boss Steve Johnson.

The impressive midfielder's stunning curler cancelled out Andy Harris 27th minute free kick before he later played a part in Steve Laidler's second half winner.

The defeat made it a miserable debut for new signing Holdsworth who struggled to make an impact in front of a bumper 2,058 crowd and was substituted late on.

Weymouth's lead over title rivals St Albans is now just three points and after this result, Terras fans will need no reminding of their side's collapse to promotion rivals Crawley Town two seasons ago.

There was little to suggest Farnborough would leave with three points early on as Weymouth enjoyed plenty of possession.

But not for the first time this season, the Terras were left frustrated as strikers Holdsworth and Chukki Eribenne were denied any clear openings by a well-organised visitors' rearguard.

Holdsworth did muster a 20-yard free kick, comfortably saved by Farnborough keeper Kevin Scriven midway through the opening period.

The hosts took the lead with probably their first serious effort on Scriven's goal.

Referee Derek Eaton adjudged Jay Smith to have fouled John McGrath on the left edge of the area.

Up stepped midfielder Harris to rifled an unstoppable shot past Scriven and into the bottom corner of net for his seventh goal of the season.

But Farnborough hauled themselves back into the contest inside three minutes with a stunning equaliser out of nothing.

Sestanovich, who was a man mountain throughout, seized on a loose ball following Scott Canham's corner, cut in from the left flank and brilliantly curled his effort beyond the despairing dive of keeper Jason Matthews.

Now all square, the lively pace continued as the hosts Eribenne had a tame drive easily dealt with by Scriven, Elam headed over from McGrath's centre and Matt Bound crashed a free kick into the visitors' wall.

Sestanovich, who once acted as a body double for Arsenal striker Thierry Henry in a television commercial, continued to cause Terras problems and his surging run nearly led to a simple-in for Carl Gibbs just before the break.

But it was Weymouth who ended the half the stronger when Roy O'Brien's powerful shot from Harris' cross was blocked by Sestanovich six yards out. The loose ball was fired goalwards by Lee Elam only for former AFC Bournemouth keeper Scriven to save well.

After the break it was a different story as Farnborough turned the screw thanks to some neat counter attacking play.

The fact Holdsworth, visibly tiring and lacking match practise, hardly had a kick said it all.

What proved the eventual winner came on 55 minutes and it was another absolute pearler of a goal from the visitors.

Sestanovich started the move wide on the right, rolling the ball into striker Gibbs whose delightful back-heel set up Laidler to tuck away from six yards.

The goal prompted the visiting fans to dance the Conga around the Wessex Stadium terraces in delight.

The setback seemed to knock the stuffing out of Weymouth who rarely looked like conjuring up an equaliser.

Holdsworth's half-hearted penalty claims for handball on Jay Smith were turned down before the striker's looping effort was smothered by Scriven.

As the game drew to a close, the hosts became ever more desperate and made a treble change, including the withdrawal of Holdsworth.

Try as they might, substitutes Kirk Jackson, Steve Clark and Raphael Nade could not find a way past the under-worked Scriven though.

Ben Smith's well-struck shot was blocked by his namesake, Jay Smith, before Jackson somehow headed wide from Clark's cross.

Weymouth's best chance of salvaging a point went begging in stoppage time.

Eribenne wriggled free in the area, drove invitingly across goal but Nade couldn't toe the ball home from inches out despite his desperate lunge at the far post.