31/3/2008

Sport

Lions tamed as Boro take another step to title

by Chris Harris

FARNBOROUGH’S Darren Wheeler was in sensational form as his team thrashed a hapless Andover side to move a step closer to the title.

The flying winger scored four of Boro’s six goals as Andy Clement’s men responded in style to their defeat at local rivals Fleet Town with a resounding win. It means that they are six points clear of Fleet at the top with four games to play, and given their far superior goal difference, two wins should now be enough clinch the BGB Southern 1 South & West title.

Wheeler has been Boro’s most impressive performer for the last two months with a string of fine performances. On Saturday at the Portway Stadium, he brutally exposed Andover’s lack of pace at the back with his own searing speed in a scintillating individual display, terrifying the home side’s defence every time he picked up the ball.

With the power of Michael Bartley alongside him, and Nic Ciardini finding space all over the pitch, the Lions were well and truly tamed, left to lick their wounds, as Boro unerringly hunted their prey down.

Clement was delighted with his star man, after revealing that he challenged him to score a hat-trick before the match.

“It was an awesome display from Darren today,” he said. “We come to expect that from him sometimes, and perhaps that is a little bit harsh on him, but he sets himself such good levels to reach each game.

“But he has been fantastic for us all season. I haven’t seen anyone who is able to keep him quiet when he is on his game.

“I said to him before the game to go and get a hat-trick and he’s done even better than that and got four. He was superb and deserved everything he got today.

Clement changed the formation for the match, reverting to a three at the back system with two wing backs. That meant that Ciardini, Leigh Rumbold and the fit again Rob Saunders were reunited in midfield, in a return to the set-up that has seen them at their attacking best this season.

Saunders returned to the side in place of Michael Barima in one of three changes from the defeat at Fleet. Ryan Hill was preferred to Rob Marshall at right-wing back, and Ciardini started in place of Marcus Richardson.

Right from the kick off Boro had the upper hand, and it seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead. But the home side carried a threat on the break, and but for a better pass from Mick Turvey, Adam Heath would have been clean through on the Boro goal.

But it wasn’t long before Boro had the lead they were looking for.

Andover centre-back Owen Elias looked terrifying with his flowing long hair and beard, reminiscent of France’s rugby union star Sébastien Chabal. And the Sale Sharks No 8 would have been proud of Elias’ tackle, as he wrapped his arms round Bartley’s waist and hauled him to the ground as the Boro striker raced through.

It was an astonishing attempt at a tackle, and despite Elias’ even more astonishing protests, the referee had no hesitation in giving a penalty. Wheeler calmly slotted the spot kick into the bottom corner to give Boro the lead, and they never looked back.

Seconds later Wheeler was in again, but saw his shot saved, and then another Elias error saw Bartley charge through. He was chopped down by Mat Davies, but incredibly was denied a second penalty.

No matter however, and after 27 minutes, Ian Oliver played a perfectly weighted through ball to Wheeler, who nipped past the onrushing Andover keeper Dave Hook and rolled in his second of the afternoon.

Andover simply couldn’t live with the pace and power of Boro’s surging attacks, and five minutes later a great team move made it 3-0. Saunders and Oliver exchanged passes down the left and the latter lifted a perfect cross to the back post. Luke Evans nodded the ball down into Ciardini’s path and the midfielder fired home his 16th goal of the campaign to end the match as a contest.

Evans then headed just wide as the chances kept on coming, and right on the stroke of half time Wheeler completed a stunning first half hat-trick. Ciardini broke forward and found him on the right, and the in-form winger beat two defenders before audaciously lifting the ball over Hook’s dive to put the seal on a superb half of football.

The fifth goal soon arrived on the hour mark when Wheeler crossed for Bartley whose point blank header was well saved. Saunders crashed in a shot on the follow up, and Kyle Swayne could do little as the ball smacked into his hand. He reacted furiously to the award of a second penalty, but his block did prevent the ball from flying into the net, and Wheeler gleefully produced a carbon copy of his earlier penalty for his fourth goal of the game.

Paul Harkness came on for the last 20 minutes and received a rousing reception from the Boro faithful, delighted at seeing one of their favourites back in action after a lengthy lay off through injury and illness.

And it was Harkness who provided the sixth goal, his cross from the left eventually falling to Ciardini, who calmly shuffled the ball onto his right foot and lifted a shot into the top corner.

Still more openings passed Boro by in the final ten minutes, but it was an emphatic win that keeps them clear at the top, and sets them up for tomorrow night's Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final against United Services Portsmouth at Cherrywood Road.

Up for grabs is a place in the final at Bournemouth’s Fitness First Stadium against Conference South side Basingstoke Town, and in truth Boro should have too much for a side that play their football in the Wessex League Division One.

Back in December, Boro comfortably dispatched of Wessex Division One side Farnborough North End 4-1 in the Aldershot Senior Cup, and North End currently sit 16 points ahead of the Portsmouth side. Boro are clearly favourites, but Clement insisted that he wouldn’t be taking the game lightly.

“Everyone expects us to win every week, so this game is no different,” he said. “It’s a semi-final and nice break from the league in a way. It’s a home game and a chance for some silverware, so we will be approaching the game in the same way we always do.

“If we put in a performance then we will be fine, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Boro; Beazley, Hill, Oliver, Evans, Woozley, Doyle, Saunders (Harkness), Rumbold, Ciardini (Barima), Wheeler, Bartley (Richardson).

For a full match report, player ratings and more comments from Clement, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Farnborough Mail.

- Boro striker Byron Bubb wasn't involved on Saturday after representing his country Grenada in their CONCACAF qualifying game for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Bubb was on target as Grenada thrashed the US Virgin Islands 10-0, with Blackburn Rovers hitman Jason Roberts also among the goals. Grenada will now face a much stiffer test when they take on Costa Rica in the next qualifying round in June.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail