Fleet had to settle for a share of the points after a dominant first-half saw numerous chances created that could have made the 1-0 lead at the break a much more comfortable scoreline. The hosts improved after the break and eventually forced their equaliser to leave Fleet cursing their missed opportunities.
It took only two minutes for the Fleet to lead after home goalkeeper Jack Turner put Josh Coley’s effort behind for a corner. Lennon Peake’s inswinger was only half cleared and in his first keague start since October, Toby Edser struck a sweet shot into the top corner.
Peake had a busy half as he was creating chances continuously and Turner was forced into action to keep him at bay on a number of occasions.
Finlay Barnes was also getting space to operate and he delivered for Dom Samuel whose turn and shot was blocked in a packed six-yard box. Ben Chapman arrived down the right for the rebound but was unable to keep that effort on target. Barnes and Samuel then found themselves within close range to turn home the ball but got in each other’s way and Farnborough survived again.
Peake came close once again on 25 minutes when an excellent free-kick effort flew across the box but settled into the side netting.
The closest chance to make it two came 10 minutes before the half-time whistle. Peake whipped a ball into the area from a corner and he picked out Tom Dallison who found Coley but his header was tipped over the bar by Turner.
The chances continued to flood in and Coley next drilled a shot goalwards which was palmed clear by the Farnborough keeper. Edser arrived in time for the rebound and pulled the trigger from a similar position to his goal but this time his effort flew wide of the mark.
The hosts really only showed any attacking purpose in time added on with some possession in the final third but Mustapha Olagunju superbly dispossessed Mason Bloomfield who would have been one-on-one with Matt Hall.
Farnborough made three half-time substitutes and improved, although Fleet still began the second period with the upper hand. However, the hosts did have chances and two of the new faces, Hakeem Sandah and Louie Holzman, went close with Holzman’s effort was pushed over by Hall.
At the other end, Turner once again pulled off a save to deny Coley from a tight angle before the Fleet forward met Peake’s delivery at the far post and that curled towards the far corner with Turner beaten but dropped wide.
The equaliser arrived on 74 minutes when substitute Sandah went on a strong run through the Fleet defence and he got a shot away with pace that bent away from Hall and in.
The Fleet thought they had found the winner late on when substitute Kwesi Appiah’s low diving header from Charlie Seaman’s cross beat Turner but the flag was up.
Farnborough went looking for a winner as both sides attacked in the final stages but neither could add to the scoreline.
EUFC: Hall, Passley, Olagunju, Dallison, Chapman, Hessenthaler, Edser, Barnes (Seaman 68), Peake (Corker 66), Coley, Samuel (Appiah 84). Subs: Cosgrave, Moncur, Nelson, Macaulay
FFC: Turner, Clifford, Robinson, Young, Lomas, Bingham, Hadi (Smith 86), Bower (Holzman 46), Bloomfield (Oyenuga 46, Byrd 77), Hobden (Sandah 46), Tarbotton. Subs: Poleon, Huke
Attendance: 754
Photos: ©EUFC, Ed Miller/Tom Harris
