Beazer Homes League side Farnborough Town’s FA Cup odyssey ended in controversy as Gary Brazil’s disputed penalty three minutes from time saw Third Division strugglers Fulham progress to the second round at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
A seething Ted Pearce blasted referee Paul Alcock’s decision to award a spot kick against Keith Rowland for handball as the Farnborough full back looked to close down Peter Scott under a high ball. Farnborough centre half Andy Bye was sent off for his protests and Brazil blasted the generous penalty high into the net past the previously inspired John Power, but Pearce was justifiably angry after the final whistle.
The Town manager fumed: “The penalty was not a penalty – pure and simple. You had 2,000 Fulham supporters at the Hammersmith End and they didn’t appeal. The linesman didn’t raise the flag. I couldn’t believe the referee had given a penalty. I thought he’d given us a free-kick. That one decision has easily cost us a five-figure sum. We’d weathered the storm and we were denied. All that work and sweat was kicked into touch by the referee. It’s going to leave a sour taste in my mouth for a very long time”.
Boro could still have forced a deserved replay in stoppage time but midfielder Brian Broome, making his 400th appearance for the club, saw a header cannon off the post and away to safety. The non-league side put in a brilliant performance, initially resisting a barrage of early Fulham pressure as Power tipped over a rising drive from Gary Brazil and then kept out a speculative strike from Martin Pike.
Pike rifled Fulham in front with a fierce right-footed finish from 20 yards having been teed up by Justin Skinner after Farnborough had only half cleared Brazil’s corner, but Alan Dicks’ side then struggled to make their quality count. The hosts badly missed a cutting edge in the absence of ineligible loanee Phil Gray and veteran striker Gordon Davies, who missed out with a groin injury.
Farnborough equalised through a stunning strike from central midfielder Jamie Horton nineteen minutes from time and looked good value for a replay as Brazil saw a shot bravely blocked by David Morris and then Power saved superbly from a Simon Morgan before Peter Scott struck the post with a low drive. Power did brilliantly to keep out Mark Newson’s low shot before referee Alcock awarded that penalty.
FULHAM: Stannard; Newson, Pike, Skinner, North, Morgan, G. Thomas, Scott, Haag (Milton 53), Brazil, Cobb (Ferney 64).
GOALS: Pike (28), Brazil (pen 87).
FARNBOROUGH: Power; Morris, Rowland, Read (Johnson 67), Bye, Wigmore, Broome, Horton, Coombs, Doherty, Rogers. Subs (not used): Caldicott.
SENT OFF: Bye.
GOAL: Horton (71).
REFEREE: Paul Alcock (Redhill).
ATTENDANCE: 4,990.
