Having had a week’s rest for the first time this month, Wanderers welcomed mid-table Farnborough to a packed-out Meadowbank on what felt like a perfect spring afternoon.

Alfie Rutherford gave Wanderers the lead within just 40 seconds of kick-off. Jordan Norville-Williams dispossessed the visitors in the middle of the park and played a well-weighted through ball to Rutherford, who cut inside from the left and fired an effort just inside the near post, leaving Boro goalkeeper Jack Turner rooted to the spot. 1’ 1-0

The rest of the opening fifteen minutes was less eventful, although both sides appeared eager to create chances. Charlie Carter tried his luck from the edge of the box with an effort that sailed narrowly over the bar, and Rob Milsom whipped in a corner that asked questions of the Yellows’ defence.

The visitors’ biggest early threat came through the exceptionally long throw of their captain, Ollie Robinson, one of which Harrison Foulkes was able to claim—albeit with some trepidation.

It turned out that our second goal was just around the corner. Having been presented with space on the right side, Carter picked out the head of Brennan Camp with pinpoint accuracy. Camp accepted the skipper’s inviting ball and nodded home from the six-yard line. 19’ 2-0

We sustained our control of possession after the goal, but it was soon the visitors’ turn to get on the scoresheet. An efficient counterattack provided space for Boro’s Reggie Young to run into, and his cutback found forward Ricky Holmes, who had time for a touch and, with the help of the post, rolled an effort past Foulkes. 31’ 2-1

Farnborough’s goal put Wanderers on the back foot. Our boys were resilient, with firm tackles from Carter, Norville-Williams, and Josh Taylor denying the Yellows a way through. A strong save from Foulkes was also necessary to deny Jonny Stuttle, who was played in behind.

The visitors looked to have launched another threatening counterattack in the half’s dying seconds, but a tactical foul from Milsom stalled Boro’s hopes of a first-half equaliser.

Half-time: 2-1

Having clearly been given a talking-to during the break, Wanderers were in total control for the first five minutes of the half but lacked the cutting edge to pose a real threat to Farnborough’s goal. This allowed Boro to grow back into the game.

Stuttle was presented with the first big chance of the half when a well-worked Boro move culminated in the 19-year-old having a shot from 12 yards out. Foulkes dived down to his left and managed to tip it around the post.

By the 70th minute, Meadowbank had grown tense. Wave after wave of Farnborough attacks had our boys under the cosh. We defended with strong resolution, and the visitors’ best chance in this period was a free kick—which they did us the favour of wasting.

We then had a rare moment in the Farnborough half, with a chance falling to Norville-Williams, whose headed effort was comfortably met by Turner.

The visitors then got the equaliser they had been searching for. A long Boro goal kick allowed them to immediately put our backline under pressure, and a well-worked passing sequence gave Stuttle the opportunity to finish at Foulkes’ near post. 82’ 2-2

Buoyed by their equaliser, the visitors looked full of confidence and continued to threaten the Wanderers’ goal.

Foulkes launched a much-needed counterattack with a long ball that found Jimmy Muitt, who linked up well with Taylor but struggled to find a way into the Boro box.

The indication of eight additional minutes provided both sets of fans with hope of a late winner, and it was Boro’s Alfie Pavey who had the first chance of injury time. Stuttle beat substitute George Francomb to put in a threatening cross, but Pavey’s headed effort was just off target.

The rest of injury time saw Wanderers in pursuit of a winner but ultimately falling short. The only half-chance of added time came through Jack Young, whose ambitious volley flew off target.

A frustrating result for our boys, especially after establishing a two-goal lead early on. Nonetheless, attention quickly turns to our Surrey Senior Cup quarter-final against Merstham on Tuesday.

Full-time: 2-2

Match report by Charlie Partridge