National League South, Bob Lucas Stadium, Saturday 26 October, 15.00 BST
Welcome back home, Terras fans!
Following our deserved 1-1 draw on Tuesday away to Bath City, we next host table-toppers Farnborough this afternoon.
Understandably, Boro need no introduction, their eight wins and 26 points places them two points clear at the summit of the National League South table.
We, on the other hand, are on the complete opposite of the spectrum, sitting bottom and eight points adrift of safety, albeit having played one game less than 20th-place Hornchurch.
Though it’s not all doom and gloom for our mighty Terras, our one loss in five league matches suggests the turn of a corner at just the right time.
LAST TIME ROUND
We have not had to wait long to face Boro, our last contest only coming on the final day of the previous campaign.
While our sixth-tier status had been firmly secured weeks before, Spencer Day’s side were looking to spoil our last game and leapfrog both Aveley, who were just a point ahead of Boro, and an out-of-sorts Hampton & Richmond Borough into the final play-off spot.
Achieving such a feat would have capped off a remarkable run of form for Day’s squad, who had picked up 33 points in their 16 games before heading down to Dorset.
Quite the turnaround after they had only earned three more points in their first 29 league games.
However, their push for promotion got off to the worst possible start, when Dan Roberts slid the ball through Farnborough goalkeeper Jack Turner’s legs to give us the lead inside 34 minutes.
But it wouldn’t be long before they struck back, Ricky Holmes pouncing on a mishap at the back and lobbing former-goalie Harvey Wiles-Richards from approx. 25 yards just two minutes later.
Edon Pruti’s red card, given in the very first minute of the second half, did little to undermine the visitors, as a 75th-minute winner from Oli Pendlebury sealed the points for Boro.
Meanwhile for their play-off foes, an embarrassing 5-1 loss away to Maidstone United suggested that they achieved their dreams.
However, Aveley’s 2-0 victory at home to Bath City cruelly ensured that the Hampshire hopefuls missed out on the chance to enter the National League by one single point.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Having faced Farnborough only 17 times in our history, this fixture is in the process of creating history.
But as of right now, it’s the Hampshire side with significantly more bragging rights, winning twice as many games with 10.
Though if it’s any team that knows how to win a crucial match versus The Yellows, it’s the mighty Terras.
Although Boro had promotion plans of their own when they came here last season, we would have similar hopes five years beforehand, only further in the driver’s seat as we needed just one win to crown ourselves Southern League Premier Division South.
With Taunton Town breathing down our neck, we needed to deliver a perfect performance to take us up to the National League South.
We did.
You won’t need any more of a reminder of how well we played; our 3-0 win crowned us champions.
A certain Brandon Goodship scored in that game; he would later tell us that this was his favourite career goal so far!
Though our legendary goal machine is still some time away from a return, we still have a positive that one goalscorer, Christy Ward, could still feature tomorrow.
The bizarre decision to send him off on Tuesday doesn’t take effect until next week, thus ensuring his availability.
SO FAR THIS SEASON…
As Boro begin their 13th successive season under Day, the club could put themselves in the National League for the first time since 2012, should they improve on their previous campaign.
Day has been known for his miracles throughout his life, putting forward a £200,000 affidavit as a teenager in 1989 to save Aldershot Town from closure.
He has had to perform a few of his own at his current club, taking The Yellows up two divisions in six seasons to the National League South by the 2022/23 season, a far cry from the team that suffered two relegations in two seasons just before their gradual path to redemption.
They were a point away from an even greater achievement last year, losing out to Aveley in battle for the final play-off spot.
But their heartbreak had been put well and truly behind them so far this time round.
With 26 points, eight wins, and 22 goals (the joint-second most in the league), few can argue their position at the top is well and truly deserved.
Millar Matthews-Lewis leads the league scoring table for his side; unsurprisingly, his six put him near the top of the table, with only Luke Coulson of Weston-super-Mare scoring more.
Their most recent game, a 1-1 draw at home to 10-men Truro City, was uncharacteristic of their quality.
Before their outing on Tuesday, they had scored 14 goals in their last five league games, winning four of them.
But, as we know, these run of games were without facing the mighty Terras, who are well onto their path of redemption.
HOW TO FOLLOW
We are pleased to announce that Robert Santonna will be back in the commentary booth this evening; click HERE to access his in-game thoughts.
Live updates will also be posted on our social media accounts; footage and reaction will also be uploaded after the final whistle.
