Tarr’s dismissal caps Boro beating (26.12.05)

DESPITE producing some attractive flowing football for most of the first half, the Magpies were eventually comprehensively defeated by Farnborough Town on Monday.
An increasingly directionless display after the break was finally capped-off by the dismissal of Magpies keeper Scott Tarr on 90 minutes for handball 10 yards outside the box, when he challenged for the ball with Town striker Warren McBean.
It underscored the lack of confidence and understanding among the visitors.
Yet in the early stages of the contest it was the hosts who looked nervous and lethargic as the Magpies played the ball around fluently and at pace.
After one excellent move involving Lee Newman and Ryan Ashe, the latter found himself 25 yards out and with the Town keeper stranded off his line.
An attempted chip followed, but it fell well short of its mark.
The Magpies continued to stretch the hosts and Newman, with a shot into the side netting, and Ashe, with a shot screwed wide, could have done better when well placed.
However, as the game remained an open attacking affair, there was always the likelihood that Town would awake their slumbers, and on 33 minutes they did.
A quickly taken free-kick played to the edge of the six-yard area, saw Paul Harkness get across his marker and divert his header into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
This seemed to take the wind out of the Magpies’ sails, and the Town now used the momentum gained to good effect.
Steve Laidler should have scored from four yards out, but Tarr made an excellent save with his legs, before Harkness grabbed his second on 41 minutes when he got on the end of a defence-splitting pass from Scott Canham.
He took the ball around Tarr to tap in for a 2-0 lead at the break.
The Magpies needed to start the second half strongly if they were to keep a foothold in the match, but the reverse occurred and Town secured the points with their third goal on 51 minutes.
The influential Matt Pattison was the goalscorer with a neat touch and killer finish after being well found by McBean.
To the Magpies’ credit, they kept a clean sheet for the remainder of the contest, although this owed much to Town’s over-elaboration when in advanced positions and a couple of decent stops by Tarr.
The visitors worked hard, as always, but struggled to get hold of the ball for any period of time, and their goal, when it came on 69 minutes, was completely against the run of play. That said, it was very well taken.
Stephen Hughes, who had enjoyed a lukewarm reception at his former club, sprayed a 40-yard diagonal pass into the path of sub Dean Bradshaw on the right flank.
He twice cut inside his markers before drilling the ball home, despite a half-stop from keeper Kevin Scriven.
It was a neat goal for the visitors but in no way affected the flow of the match.
The sending-off of keeper Tarr by referee Alison Chapman, just minutes before the end, produced a talking point for the Magpies, but it’s actual points they need.

CLEARANCE: Magpies keeper Scott Tarr punches the ball to safety as defender Dominic White looks on. Tarr was later dismissed for handball outside the area. Picture by Nigel Keene.