Match Preview: Farnborough (A) - 6th December 2025

Photo courtesy of Fin Hall

By Josh Cole

The Stags are on the road again, but this time staying in Hampshire, with a trip to Farnborough up next at the weekend.

Last time out Totton were beaten by Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday night. You can read the match report from that game by clicking here.

You can also watch the interviews with Jimmy Ball and Andre Changunda after that loss and see how they summed it up.

FARNBOROUGH – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

Boro currently sit in 21^st place, occupying that final relegation place at this moment in time, on 18 points from 20 games.

In August, Farnborough picked up five points. On opening day, the drew 1-1 with Eastbourne at home, but lost 3-2 to Chesham the next game, and then won on the third game, 1-0 against Worthing. Two losses against Hornchurch and Weston-super-Mare came after that win and in the final game of August they drew 3-3 away at Tonbridge.

To kick-off September, Farnborough did it with a bang, winning 2-5 on a Monday night against Chelmsford. Then they played Dover two games in a row, with The Yellows losing the league game 1-2, but winning in the FA Cup 4-1. Then came a big loss at home to Winchester in the Hampshire Senior Cup, an 0-8 loss to be exact.

In the league, Farnborough’s tough form continued with a 1-0 loss against Hemel Hempstead, but to round off September in the FA Cup they won 0-1 against Westbury United.

October was another month of struggle for Farnborough. Drawing to Bath in the league 2-2 at home, then, Boro were knocked out of the FA Cup by Braintree, losing 2-0. Two league losses then came in a row against Maidstone (0-2) & Salisbury (1-0), but they ended with a 1-0 win over Maidenhead.

Farnborough started November with a 0-0 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge, but like all season, can’t string together form as they then lost 1-3 against Torquay. But, bounced back well to beat Dorking 2-0. That would be their last win as they have are winless in their last five, including a loss in the FA Trophy against Walton & Hersham.

LAST FIVE: FARNBOROUGH

(Most recent result first)

Vs Ebbsfleet | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Hakeem Sandah 74’

Vs Chippenham Town | Away | ENLS | Drew 2-2

Goalscorer: Dominic Poleon 7’ & 12’

Vs Enfield Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 5-1

Goalscorer: Dominic Poleon 22’

Vs Slough Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-0

Vs Walton & Hersham | Away | FA Trophy 2^nd Round | Lost 2-1

Goalscorer: Billy Clifford 45’

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Hampton & Richmond | Away | Lost 2-0

Vs Dagenham & Redbridge | Away | Lost 0-5

Vs Slough Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-2

Goalscorer: Malachi Linton 3’ & 36’

Vs Hornchurch | Away | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Joe Oastler 71’

Vs Folkestone Invicta | Away | FA Trophy 2^nd Round | Won 1-2

Goalscorers: Malachi Linton 38’ & Scott Rendell 89’

COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)

OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DEFENCE: Ollie Robinson

Robinson joined Farnborough ahead of the 2022/23 season, arriving as the former Metropolitan Police captain as the Club prepared for its return to the Vanarama National League South.

He played his youth football with Carshalton Athletic and Kingstonian, before moving into senior Non-League football with Walton Casuals and Molesey Town.

Ollie went on to spend six seasons with Metropolitan Police, becoming a key figure for the club and famously coming close to ending Farnborough’s promotion hopes during the dramatic Southern League Premier South Play-Offs in 2022.

MIDFIELD: Billy Clifford

Billy Clifford signed for Farnborough FC in July 2025, joining the club on a two-year deal as a seasoned midfield professional.

A product of the Chelsea FC academy, which he joined as a child, Billy turned professional in 2010. During his time at Chelsea, he featured in pre-season and youth teams but never made a competitive senior appearance for the first team.

From 2013 onwards he experienced life in senior football via a series of moves and loans: a loan spell at Colchester United where he made 18 league appearances and scored once, plus loans at Yeovil Town and Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

He left Chelsea in 2014, signing for Walsall FC, followed by a stint with Boreham Wood FC in 2015-16.

In July 2016 he moved to Crawley Town FC, spending two seasons there before returning to non-league football with Boreham Wood, then Hemel Hempstead Town FC, Billericay Town FC, and a loan spell with Slough Town FC.

In 2019, he signed for Wealdstone FC, helping them win the National League South title in the 2019/20 season and earning a place in the division’s Team of the Season.

He then joined Havant & Waterlooville FC in 2020, staying there until January 2023, when he moved to Ebbsfleet United FC. His time at Ebbsfleet saw him rediscover good form under a new manager.

In June 2024, he signed for Barnet FC, contributing 21 league appearances as the club achieved promotion to the Football League at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Now at Farnborough for the 2025/26 campaign, Billy brings a wealth of experience across the Football League and non-league.

ATTACK: Dominic Poleon

Dominic Poleon made the move from Ebbsfleet United to the Saunders Transport Community Stadium after four memorable and prolific years in Kent.

The 31-year-old forward leaves Stonebridge Road as one of Ebbsfleet’s most impactful modern-era players, having scored an outstanding 81 goals in 167 appearances across four seasons in the National League South and National League. A key figure in the Fleet’s 2022/23 National League South title-winning campaign, he also claimed the division’s Player of the Season award and finished as the club’s Golden Boot winner for three consecutive seasons (2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24), including a remarkable 36-goal haul during their 103-point title charge.

Born in England but representing Saint Lucia internationally, Poleon has earned two caps to date, scoring three goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Sint Maarten in 2023.

An exciting, dynamic striker, Dominic began his youth career with Chelsea and Southend United, before earning a move to Leeds United in 2010. He progressed through the academy and was promoted to Neil Warnock’s first-team squad for the 2012/13 season.

He made his Leeds debut in the League Cup against Shrewsbury Town in August 2012 and scored on his first league start the following month in a 2–1 win over Nottingham Forest. Loan spells at Bury and Sheffield United followed, and he went on to make 29 first-team appearances, scoring three goals during his time at Elland Road.

Poleon joined Oldham Athletic on deadline day in September 2014, making 60 appearances and scoring eight goals across two seasons, working under five different managers. Moves to AFC Wimbledon (13 goals in 49 games) and Bradford City (6 goals in 32 games) further solidified his Football League pedigree, before spells with Crawley Town and Newport County, where he also spent time on loan with Dover Athletic.

In February 2021 he made the permanent switch into non-league with Ebbsfleet United, where his explosive scoring form and consistent match-winning performances made him one of the most feared forwards outside the EFL, including four hat-tricks across his Fleet tenure.

This season so far Poleon has appeared in 21 games, scoring 10 goals so far this season.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Brandon Scaife
Assistant: Joel Lamping 
Assistant: Tom Lathey 
Fourth Official: Jacob Wright

GO STAGS