Match Preview: Farnborough (H) - 25th April 2026

Photo courtesy of Oli Blackburn

By Josh Cole

The final game of the season for The Stags is here for our first ever season at this level in our club’s history!

Last time out The Stags completed a second-half turnaround away at Eastbourne Borough to win 2-3! CLICK HERE to read the match report!

During the week we announced that Scott Rendell has become the new AFC Totton manager! CLICK HERE to read the announcement!

FARNBOROUGH – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

For Boro they managed to steer clear of the relegation spaces and stay up after a good 2026, and they currently sit in 19^th place on 50 points from 45 games played. CLICK HERE to view the full league table. 

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, they 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 been winless in their last five before the visit of Totton, including a loss in the FA Trophy against Walton & Hersham.

December started with a 4-2 win at home against AFC Totton, and they did manage to back that result up with another home win against Salisbury (1-0). For the rest of their results in December and their games in January, they managed just one win in six games.

In February, Farnborough started this month with a 2-2 draw at home to Maidenhead but then suffered two heavy defeats against Dorking (5-3) and Enfield Town (0-5) then rounded off the month with a win against Chippenham (2-1) and a draw against Ebbsfleet away (2-2).

March was a very busy month for Farnborough, playing eight games. Boro’s first five matches saw just one win, one draw and three losses, but that win did come against a relegation rival in Bath City (0-1). In their last three games of the month, they were all home fixtures, and they picked up two wins and a draw to steer them clear of the relegation zone.

April saw Farnborough needing just one win to secure their ENLS status and they managed to get two out of their four games, at home to Horsham (2-0) and away at Dover (1-3). Their other two games of the month were losses, away at Hampton & Richmond and at home against Tonbridge in their last match and final home game of the season was a 1-6 loss.

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Eastbourne Borough | Away | ENLS | Won 2-3

Goalscorers: Christie Ward 40’ & Ash Clarke 65’, 89’

Vs Bath City | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 4’ & Christie Ward 17’

Vs Dorking Wanderers | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Alfie Merritt 57’ & Christie Ward 65’

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

Vs Salisbury | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 37’ & Christie Ward 74’

LAST FIVE: FARNBOROUGH

Vs Tonbridge Angels | Home | ENLS | Lost 1-6

Goalscorer: Nico Lawrence 2’

Vs Dover Athletic | Away | ENLS | Won 1-3

Goalscorers: Ollie Robinson 44’, Rakish Bingham 45+1’ & Mason Bloomfield 81’ (PEN)

Vs Horsham | Home | ENLS | Won 2-0

Goalscorer: Mason Bloomfield 59’ & 72’

Vs Hampton & Richmond | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-1

Goalscorer: Rakish Bingham 70’

Vs Hornchurch | Home | ENLS | Drew 2-2

Goalscorers: Michael Stickland 50’ & Micah Anthony 61’

COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)

OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DEFENCE: OLLIE ROBINSON

The former Metropolitan Police Captain joined Farnborough for the start of the 2022/23 season, ahead of the Club’s return to The Vanarama National League South.

Playing his Youth football at Carshalton Athletic and Kingstonian, Ollie progressed into Non-League football with Walton Casuals and Molesey Town, before spending six seasons at Metropolitan Police, where he went close to spoiling the Farnborough dream in the dramatic Southern League Premier South Play-Offs in 2022.

MIDFIELD: HAKEEM SANDAH

Having learnt his trade with Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town’s Academy sides, Hakeem has been a part of Colchester United’s Under 21 side over recent years.

The pacey wide man has tasted non-league football during loan spells with Maldon & Tiptree and most recently Walton & Hersham.

Joined Farnborough in August 2025 after spending Pre-Season with AFC Bournemouth.

ATTACK: RAKISH BINGHAM

Rakish Bingham is an experienced and powerful centre forward currently playing for Farnborough in the National League South. A well-travelled striker with a strong goalscoring record, Bingham brings a wealth of experience from the EFL, Scottish Premiership and non-league game.

Bingham began his career in the youth system at Wigan Athletic, progressing through the ranks and signing his first professional contract in 2012. During his time with the club, he gained senior experience on loan with Falkirk in Scotland, making 11 league appearances.

He moved to Mansfield Town in 2014, making an immediate impact by scoring on his debut and going on to register 6 goals in 28 league appearances. A loan spell with Hartlepool United followed, before he joined the club permanently in 2015, making 31 league appearances and scoring four goals.

In 2016, Bingham moved north of the border to join Hamilton Academical, where he enjoyed one of the most stable spells of his career. Over three seasons in the Scottish Premiership, he made over 80 appearances, scoring 11 goals and gaining valuable top-flight experience.

Short spells with Cheltenham Town, Doncaster Rovers and Dundee United followed before Bingham returned to England to join Ebbsfleet United in 2020. It was at Ebbsfleet where he truly established himself as a prolific striker, scoring 46 goals in 132 league appearances across five seasons and playing a key role in the club’s National League South title-winning campaign in 2022/23.

After departing Ebbsfleet in 2025, Bingham signed for Farnborough, where he quickly became a focal point in attack. During the 2025/26 season, he scored 13 goals in 42 league appearances, continuing to demonstrate his consistency at step two level.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Neil Pratt

Assistant Referee 1: James Colley

Assistant Referee 2: Samuel Wright

Fourth Official: Josh Osofa

GO STAGS