The Fleet booked a spot in the FA Trophy third round with a victory from a first-ever trip to Farnham Town.
Josh Wright made a few changes for this one and there were starts for Olly Box and Harvey Walker, while Dominic Samuel also returned to the starting lineup.
Former Fleet man Billy Clifford had the first chance of the afternoon when his effort clipped the inside post but bounced away from the goal, just after George Alexander’s attempted lob was way off target.
Samuel and Box then linked up nicely for the Fleet but Box couldn’t quite reach Samuel’s delivery from close range.
Harvey Walker also created an opportunity with some good running down the left but his effort was blocked en route to the target.
With Fleet settling into the game well, the opening goal arrived for Samuel on 30 minutes, with his third of the season. Charlie Seaman made a darting run down the right flank and sent the ball in low towards the far post where it skipped over several legs to pick out the Fleet’s No.14 who fired high into the goal.
Farnham looked to test Will Buse before the break but it was no danger for the Fleet keeper and the visitors headed into the break with the advantage.
The second-half saw Box create the first chance after he carried the ball to the edge of his area and sent a great pass up to Samuel but the striker’s attempt was blocked.
The hosts stepped up their game and had a couple of chances before they equalised on the hour mark. Bobby-Joe Taylor swung over a a delivery from a free-kick to pick out skipper Ryan Kinnane at the far post and he only had to stab the ball home for 1-1.
Camron Gbadebo tried to send the Fleet back in front straight away but his long-range effort brushed the post while Farnham sent one of their own that flew just off target.
Yet it was the Fleet who found the all-important next goal. It was another one of Josh Wright’s substitute contributions as Ben Chapman’s first touch of the afternoon delivered the ball into the danger area to pick out Kwesi Appiah at the back post who was only a few yards out to convert.
Farnham should have pushed the game to penalties when George Alexander got up well to a cross from the left but somehow sent his close-range header past Buse but to the wrong side of the post.
EUFC: Buse, Tizzard, Gbadebo, Vokins, Hessenthaler, Kennedy, Seaman (Ogunleye 86), Walker (Chapman 73), Box (Manktelow 78), Barnes (Passley 63), Samuel (Appiah 59).
FTFC: Eacott, Lavinier (Tanner 46), Fernandez, Kinnane, Holzman, Hutchinson (Mackenzie 46), Spong (Sanders 64), Alves (Bingham 64), Clifford, Taylor, Alexander. Sub not used: Shaw.
Attendance: 835
Photos: ©EUFC, Tom Harris
