A late wonder goal from Jake Thomson was not enough for Saints as Farnborough ran out 2-1 winners at Cherrywood Road.

The game provided a good opportunity for a number of Saints players to prove their worth ahead of the new season under the watchful eyes of new boss Alan Pardew who was sitting in the stands, whilst Stewart Henderson directed things from the touchline.

Morgan Schneiderlin got his first run out of pre-season having been away with the French Under-20 side earlier in the month and he showed no ill effects from his recent knee injury as he played just over an hour for the visitors.

A slow first half saw few chances from Saints but they did have the ball in the net on 7 minutes when Jamie White headed Jake Thomson's cross in but the young forward was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

Farnborough striker Kezie Ibe tested the Saints backline on a few occasions and was twice denied by 'keeper Bartosz Bialkowski in one on one situations before he tried to lob the Polish shot stopper with no avail.

Thomson and Marek Saganowski had the visitors' best opportunities after that but the game remained goalless at the half time interval.

Two minutes after the re-start White almost put Saints in front as he clipped the ball over the advancing Richard Barnard from the Farnborough goal but his effort went agonisingly wide of the right hand post.

Oscar Gobern was next to have a go, playing on the left of midfield he found himself going through the centre on this occasion by latching on to an Anthony Pulis header, but the youngster's low shot was kept out by the outstretched legs of Barnard.

That proved to be the Farnborough 'keeper's last actions of the game as he was substituted off to make way for Steve Williams, one of six switches from the hosts in eight minutes.

It was one of the starting XI that forced the breakthrough though as Ibe broke into the Saints penalty area and had his shirt tugged by Saints' half-time substitute Ryan Tafazolli, who had replaced left back Lee Molyneux at the interval.

The penalty was taken by one of the players who had just entered the fray, Dean McDonald a former Arsenal youth player who stroked home the spot-kick with assurance to make it 1-0 on 64 minutes.

Thomson broke forward again for Henderson's side but struck a tame long range shot which was gathered by Williams before McDonald threatened again five minutes later as he turned and shot wide of the left post.
On 77 minutes though, the hosts doubled their advantage when a quick free-kick found Jack King, who in turn cut the ball back to McDonald and the striker notched his second of the game with a well struck shot into the top left hand corner.

As the game started to peter out Thomson collected the ball just outside of the centre circle in his own half and in one smooth motion struck an audacious lob goal bound. Williams got a touch on it but was already beaten by the shot as he backpedalled towards his own net and the ball crossed the line to bring the crowd to its feet four minutes from time.

Bialkowski made one final save to deny King and Saints' last chance fell to Gobern who collected a Callum McNish lay-off but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Full Time: Farnborough 2-1 Saints

Saints XI: Bialkowski, Argent, Molyneux (Tafazolli 46), Lancashire, Saville, Pulis (McNish 73), Schneiderlin (Boyle 64), Thomson, Goner, White (Scott 73), Saganowski (Keegan 85). Subs (not used): Forecast.

Farnborough: Barnard (Williams 59), Ray, Opinel (Price 79), Stevens (Doyle 51), Thomas, Rumbold (Dossou 51), Harkin (Bubb 79), Laidler (McCleod 51), Ibe (Ciardini 79), Charles (McDonald 51), Wilde (King 51). Subs (not used): Thomas.

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 612