The scoreline almost followed the run of 3-2 wins but in the end Fleet settled for a repeat scoreline of the 2011 promotion final against Farnborough as Darren McQueen’s late strike sealed the points against a resilient visiting side who refused to lie down after falling behind.
Dennis Kutrieb reverted to the 11 who started against Chippenham against the newly promoted Farnborough and once again there was a spread of goalscorers with four different names ensuring the team’s 100% start to the season was maintained.
Fleet carved out a good opening before the first minute had elapsed, Luke O’Neill starting where he’d left off on Tuesday with an effort on target that Jack Turner had to gather at the second attempt by the foot of his post.
The home side ran Farnborough around for much of the opening 20 minutes and Greg Cundle saw an effort easily gathered by Turner after a good spell of passing by the men in red.
The best chance came Fleet’s way in the ninth minute when Cundle worked a path in from the left to find Rakish Bingham. His shot was blocked and with Farnborough scrambling desperately, Dominic Poleon played the ball back inside and Josh Wright’s follow-up effort was somehow stopped as well, allowing Turner to take the ball down.
Although penned into their own half for much of the first period, Farnborough looked to snatch a yard on the break. Reggie Young got away down the right and managed to evade two challenges before Chris Solly blocked his shot on goal. And it was Solly again who stopped Deering’s effort after Farnborough had earned some good fortune when N’Guessan’s header ricocheted off Craig Tanner and into the former Fleet player’s pass. And from the resulting corner, Ricky Holmes thumped a shot over the bar after Cousins had pushed the ball clear.
Now with a little more belief, Farnborough had two better chances as the half-hour approached.First, Cousins had to save well after Michael Fernandes got behind the defence to try his luck on goal and then Tony Lee manoeuvred himself into a similar position, attempting to lift an effort over Cousins in the six-yard box that the goalkeeper eventually halted.
In between that promising spell for the visitors, Wright showed some skill with a drag-back on the edge of the Boro box but lifted his shot just a little too high. N’Guessan embarked on another of his drives through the middle and into the box before he was crowded out and subsequent shots from Bingham and Poleon were blocked by yellow shirts once more.
There was no such blockage for Poleon when he broke the deadlock on 41 minutes, an almost casual pass wide from Sterling after an interception and attacking run allowing the Fleet’s No.14 to fire home with precision.
That lead only last through to half-time and three minutes beyond as Farnborough equalised courtesy of a solo effort from Jordan Norville-Williams. He beat the Fleet defence to a misplaced ball just past the halfway line and did well to outpace his pursuers and keep his head to fire high past Cousins.
But Fleet haven’t got to the summit at this early stage of the season without fight and spirit and they regained the lead within three minutes. It came courtesy of a penalty when Cundle’s typical run into the box from wide on the left was cut short by Young’s trip and Bingham did what he does from the spot.
It could have been 3-1 immediately after when Sterling seemed to be sent over illegally in two challenges but having just given a penalty, the referee wasn’t moved to award another. Wright ended that move by scooping inches wide but the Fleet did get the third on 58 minutes. Having won the penalty, Cundle took all the plaudits this time, taking O’Neill’s square pass on and firing a fine effort home over the despairing Turner for his second of the season.
But back came Farnborough on 71 minutes, though they benefitted from a useful ricochet once more, Poleon initially doing well to clear from the edge of his box but his clearance hitting a yellow shirt, falling for Jordan Norville-Williams and slipped wide for Kevin Lokko who finished with a fine shot from outside the box.
Farnborough were certainly persistent in their attempts to get back in the game and after Norville-Williams drew a yellow card from Sterling’s tackle, Deering sent a free-kick into the six-yard box that was well attacked and Cousins needed to perform a brave intervention to keep it out.
There was, as ever this season, some late drama when substitute Omar Rowe lashed out after a tussle with Sido Jombati, crunching into the Fleet defender from behind after he dug the ball out and moved forward. Rowe left with little grace, booting several items in the tunnel on his way.
And then there was the customary late goal for the Fleet as well, almost a copy of his goal against Chippenham, as McQueen raced on to Bingham’s pass to the right after Poleon’s intelligent back-heel. He kept his head and fired into the far corner off the post to ensure the Fleet stayed top of the pile.
That’s 12 points from 12 and 16 goals for the Fleet as the Bank Holiday looms large with two games next weekend.
EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill, Martin (Jombati 66), Solly, Wright (Edser 71), N’Guessan, Cundle, Sterling (McQueen 86), Tanner, Bingham, Poleon
FFC: Turner, Ball, Fearn, Lokko, Holmes (Ferdinand 62), Deering, Young, Norville-Williams, Davis, Lee (Rowe 62), Fernandes (Kasimu 80), Subs: Page, Olumuyiwa
Attendance: 1,178
Vote for man of the match below.
