Farmer bows out at first hurdle

One half of the Shropshire challenge for the Lakeside World Pro Darts Championship has gone - as Steve Farmer suffered a first round exit.

The Telford-based ace, playing in the BDO’s premier tournament for the first time, lost 3-2 to Tony O’Shea, leaving county hopes in the hands of Ted Hankey who opens his campaign against Steve West tonight (7.30pm).

Disappointed Farmer gave No 5 seed O’Shea an almighty fright at Frimley Green, fighting back from two sets down to square the match before losing the decider.

But the damage was done at the start of the game as O’Shea reeled off five consecutive legs to take control.

Farmer motored back in the third, recovering from losing the opening leg to clinch the set 3-1 on double tops as O’Shea’s form dipped.

Punishing the lacklustre performance of the Cheshire player, Farmer planted the seeds of a remarkable comeback, sweeping through the fourth set unchallenged, but the 2004 semi finalist held his nerve to annex the fifth set.

Afterwards O’Shea wiped the sweat away and took a sharp intake of breath, declaring: “I just couldn’t lift my game and after the second set I turned to Steve and he said that he was dragging my game down to his level!”

Hankey takes to the stage tonight as the No 7 seed against West as he bids to repeat his world title success of 2000.