Kentish Football 
Faversham Town 0-0 Whyteleafe - I would have taken a point before hand, admits Ray Turner
FAVERSHAM TOWN 0-0 WHYTELEAFE
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 13th September 2011
Mike Green reports from Salters Lane
The setting was wonderful - a beautifully clear Salters Lane night with an incredibly bright new moon - but it was just a shame that for long periods two very well matched sides struggled to break the deadlock as this Ryman League Division One South contest ended with a blank stalemate.
Visiting keeper Paul Smith was the undoubted star of the night producing two wonderful first half saves to deny firstly Aaron Quain's 25 yard free kick that seemed destined for the top left corner, and then to somehow turn aside Dale Skelton's low drive which ended the move of the night as Justin Ascheri sprinted down the right before squaring for Adrian Stone to sell the Whyteleafe defence an outrageous dummy before Skelton's shot was brilliantly saved by Smith.
Faversham boss Ray Turner admitted afterwards that he was satisfied if not completely happy with his side’s performance.
He said: "I would have taken a point before hand. We have created opportunities tonight, and my biggest disappointment is that we haven’t kept a winning run going but we are now unbeaten in four - it would have been nice to have won four on the bounce going into Saturday's cup tie at Carshalton.
“I think key tonight was not to concede as they were a big powerful side going up front. We've had the better chances of the few created over the 90 minutes and sometimes you have to settle for a point at home. After all staying unbeaten breads confidence.
“Aaron scored a great free kick on Saturday which he would have repeated again tonight but for a stunning save and then the keeper produced an even better save to deny Dale after a great flowing move, and I think in the second half Ashley's had a header just wide and then Damien Abel's had a couple of volley’s late on - one very close from the edge of the box. So when you sit down and analyse it at the end if the game its always tricky, but when I look at it later on when I get home, we have created chances as well as keeping a clean sheet. It’s another building block towards where we want to be."
It may have been a building block, but there were too many occasions when Stone and Quain were left isolated and it must have been so frustrating for the Faversham bench that too many times the final ball just wasn't there!
For all Faversham's good first half chances, the visitors has their moments too - none better that Fred Flemings free header six minutes from half time from Ryan Thomas' corner which sadly for the Whyteleafe skipper sailed into the car park behind the goal.
The second half was far more entertaining as the two sides became more adventurous.
Smith produced a great catch to claim Quain's left wing cross before Faversham keeper Rob French produced his save of the night on 74 minutes. The gangly Jay Garrick battled through on the edge of the box and as he shot he was met with a great block from a keeper who produced a big target that the Whyteleafe striker couldn't get past.
Home substitute Damien Abel then fired just over after a free kick had been only half cleared, before with 11 minutes left defender Ashley Brown - up from the back - met Dave Botterill's corner with a powerful header that flew inches wide.
Garrick was then denied by French on the very edge of the box after the striker had charged down the keepers attempted clearance - French was a touch fortunate to see the ricochet not fly towards the goal.
The home side ended the stronger and twice in the closing minutes could have broken the deadlock.
On 87 minutes, Smith was forced to punch the ball off the head of Faversham substitute Richard Sinden after Botterill had flicked on, before in stoppage time Abel volleyed over after Ascheri worked wonders down the right.
All in all then a disappointing game, but as Faversham boss Turner said this performance was "... another building block towards where we want to be."
Faversham Town: Rob French, Michael Scott, Sam Gore, Tom Hickman, Ashley Brown, Matt Bourne, Justin Ascheri, Dale Skelton (Damien Abel 65), Adrian Stone (Richard Sinden 65), Aaron Quain, Dave Botterill
Subs: Dan Ellett, Tom Axford, Dan Ellis
Booked: Sam Gore 67
Whyteleafe: Paul Smith, Alec Brown, Don Huell (Danny Dudley 29), Fred Fleming, Dan Aldous, Jerome Ingram, Ryan Thomas, Lee Stripp, Jay Garrick, Stephane Gnamore, Scott Simpson.
Subs: Greg Clare, James Brockhurst, Hiram Laud Anderson, Ricky Borrett
Attendance: 100
Referee: Mr David Spain (Westfield, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Craig Pullen (Ilford, Essex) & Mr Mark Scott (Swanscombe)
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