Central Division semi-finals action review

At the Rushmoor Community Stadium, a Farnborough outfit who had finished as runners-up to runaway champions Royston Town, hosted an Egham Town side who only just scraped into the top five. And for the second season running, it was play-off semi-final heartbreak for the Sarnies.

Boro took a 25th minute lead thanks to a clinical finish by Perry Coles, who formed a dangerous partnership with veteran Jamie Cureton in the home attack. And just three minutes later, Boro doubled their advantage and this time it was the well-travelled Cureton who scored it.

The home side held their two-goal advantage at the break, but Egham came quickly out of the traps in the second period and Boro were grateful to `keeper Zaki Oualah for two outstanding double saves from close range to deny the visitors a way back into the game.

But on the hour-mark, Farnborough scored a third and killer goal when Coles grabbed his second of the game, poking the ball through the Egham keeper`s legs. And they added a fourth for good measure with three minutes remaining – and it was a tremendous strike from Scott Donnelly to round off a great evening for the majority in the 523 crowd.

The other semi-final took place at Sharpenhoe Road where Barton Rovers, who finished third in the regular season, hosted Marlow, who only ended up below their hosts on goal difference, so a tight game was anticipated.

And that`s what happened but it was the visitors who had the upper hand and Rovers were grateful to goalkeeper Kyle Forster, who produced a handful of good saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep Marlow at bay.

The deadlock was finally broken with 20 minutes of normal time remaining when former Kempston Rovers striker Danny Watson struck home the opener. And then four minutes from time, Connor Calcutt doubled Rovers` lead – a lead they held on to with relative comfort to seal a place in the final in Hampshire.

Image courtesy of Pitchero

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