Kentish Football 
Faversham Town 1-1 Herne Bay - Halsey fumes: Playing reserves was a waste of time!
Saturday 31st July 2010
FAVERSHAM TOWN 1-1 HERNE BAY
Kent League Challenge Shield
Saturday 31st July 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Salters Lane
FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Justin Luchford defended his decision to play an unfamiliar side in the annual curtain raiser to the Kent League season.
Only one first teamer, Ashley Brown started, while Dane Luchford and Richard Sinden came off the bench as the in-experienced Lilywhites shared the Shield with last season’s runners-up Herne Bay, whose manager Simon Halsey was livid.
After giving his side a dressing down after the final whistle out of the pitch, Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk exactly what he thought of his opposite number’s team selection.
“Dire! Dire! The whole game was dire!” he fumed. “I thought they completely took the Mickey out of the whole day today fielding an inexperienced reserve side so I think the whole day was a complete waste of time to be honest!”
Halsey added: “It’s disgraceful, disrespectful! I haven’t got a clue (why he chose to pick a weakened team), perhaps he didn’t want his first team players to lose to us. They haven’t had a great pre-season have they? But I think it’s disrespectful to the League and everything.”
Faversham, who kick-off their inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign in 21 days time, held an open training session on the Salters Lane for two hours from mid-day, but Luchford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk his reasons behind his team selection.
He said: “Well, I think you saw the lads today, I put the youngsters out there, a couple of first teamers who needed a bit of fitness, but we weren’t ready for that magnitude of game today.
“We sent the lads out there to have a look at them, especially the youngsters that are coming on, and my God did they put themselves about and I just thought they were outstanding from start to finish!
“It wasn’t a perfect performance, don’t get me wrong, they made mistakes but they’re learning and the good thing is with youngsters, it’s easy to teach a youngster because he wants to learn. It’s harder to teach someone like (Richard) Sinden, an old dog new tricks, but again he’s one who still wants to learn.
“Gradually, we’re getting things right and we’ll be ready in three weeks time.”
The hosts didn’t look out of place against their more experienced opponents and played some good football at times.
Faversham called visiting goalkeeper Dan Eason into early action as makeshift striker Ashley Brown ghosted in behind the Herne Bay defence to meet Rob Reardon’s free-kick with a low right-footed volley, which was caught low down by the aluminous pink shirted Herne Bay stopper.
Herne Bay had a goal ruled out after 16 minutes when striker Stuart King turned Jack Baldwin and slipped the ball through to James Turner, who slotted the ball past Ellis, but the offside flag had already been raised.
Faversham keeper Ellis - who played first team football for Ryman League Division One South side Chatham Town last season - made a comfortable save to deny King scoring with a left-footed drive on the turn.
However, it was Faversham that broke the stalemate, scoring after 23 minutes, through Ashley Brown.
Baldwin’s free-kick from inside his own half released Vince Collis down the left and after teasing right-back Sam Baker, he delivered an excellent cross towards the near post for Brown to power his header into the net from six-yards.
Herne Bay frequently utilised Byron Walker’s pace down the left hand side on numerous occasions before the winger’s withdrawal through injury.
On one occasion, Walker cut the ball back to supporting left-back Shaun Bremner and his first time cross was nodded wide by Dan Lawrence at the far post.
Faversham squandered an excellent chance to double their lead when a poor clearance from Eason bounced straight to Connor Young, who tried his luck from 35-yards, only to see his right-footed chip sail over.
John Ralph - a summer signing from Hythe Town - played a delicious ball out of defence for Walker, who brought the ball under control before cutting the ball back for James Turner to strike a right-footed drive, which brought the very best out of Ellis, who expertly tipped the ball around his post.
However, the Faversham keeper was beaten five minutes before half-time.
Central midfielder Simon Brown unleashed a daisy-cutter from 30-yards, which bounced off the Faversham keeper and predatory striker King was on hand to steer the rebound into the back of the net from close in.
Faversham stayed out on the pitch at the interval and on came Dane Luchford and he joined Ashley Brown up front for 17 minutes before Brown made way for experienced campaigner Sinden.
And Luchford almost repaid the faith shown in him by his older brother, when he was released through on goal by a ball out of defence and with only Eason to beat, the keeper made a fine save.
With both teams utilising all of their five substitutes, both sides created sporadic goalscoring chances as what should have been a feisty game turned out to be a typical disappointing pre-season encounter.
Herne Bay stopper Eason made his second excellent save after 65 minutes when he produced a fantastic one handed save to prevent Dan Ellett’s bullet header (following Reardon’s free-kick) rocketing towards the top corner.
Within two minutes, it was time for Faversham’s substitute goalkeeper Giga Zulmatashvili - who was number two to Paul Hyde (who has joined the Lilywhites coaching staff) at Kent County League neighbours Canterbury City last season.
The keeper got down quickly to his left and stuck out a strong hand to turn away Bremner’s low snap shot on the angle from the edge of the penalty box, which was bending towards the bottom far corner.
Herne Bay had a couple of late chances to snatch victory, instead the game petered out into a disappointing draw.
Eason’s long punt down the middle of the pitch was met on the half-volley by substitute Ben Brown, which only just cleared the crossbar. Then Simon Brown’s left-footed drive was saved low by Zulmatashvili.
Halsey felt his side should have had enough in their locker to beat Faversham, especially as they only have one warm-up game left to play (away to bitter-rivals Whitstable Town) on Tuesday before they kick-off their Kent League campaign with a tasty home showdown against Erith & Belvedere next Saturday.
“We’ve done well in patches,” admitted Halsey. “All said and done, well done to their reserve side! I think they done quite well, passed the ball around well, (we’re) busy and we weren’t at the races again!
“I don’t know the reason why we’re not quite at it yet - but as I said to them we’re running out of games to nail it and we haven’t nailed it yet!
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m making no excuse. I’m without five first teamers but the team Faversham had out there today we should have won the game.”
Luchford was bubbling afterwards, as his side showed that he has strength in depth, vitally important at Ryman League level.
“I mean, I’ve got to have a word with Tommy Sampson because I don’t know where he’s pulled Byron walker out for man-of-the-match because my right-back’s had him in his pocket for most of the game,” said Luchford.
“I thought Jack Baldwin (at centre back), I mean, that boy can play and yes we have got strength in depth.
“We worked a lot in the summer. It was so important that we had to get the structure right from the youth to the reserves to the first team and that was wrong and we’re getting that right and that’s coming to fruition.
“There’s lads out there from different places. This is the place to be at the moment. It’s got a good buzz about it. We’re about to embark on the Ryman League. It’s all daunting for us but it’s great that everyone wants to be here and the Faversham lads are coming through and the youth policy will slowly kick in.”
Luchford, who admitted he has pencilled in 8 players for their Ryman League opener away to Whitehawk on 21 August - saying that the two striker places are still up for grabs - has told Ellis and Zulmatashvili to push highly-rated number one stopper Rob French.
Luchford said: “Giga was number 2 at Canterbury with Paul (Hyde) last year and you’ve got to take whatever Hydie says. His fairly decent and he’s got big hopes for this Giga so I had a look at him today. I think we saw shot-stopping wise he’s certainly got something.
“Dan Ellis, who we have brought in from Chatham Town, we call him Honey Monster. He could do with losing a bit of weight but I think if he applies himself and works hard he’s going to push Frenchie.
“That’s what we want, Frenchie wants to be pushed. He doesn’t want to just walk into his shirt every week.”
Meanwhile, Faversham will hold the Shield for a five month period first, before handing it over to Herne Bay for the same length of time.
Faversham Town: Dan Ellis (Giga Zulmatashvili 54), Rob Reardon, Lewis Pout, Matt Latham, Jack Baldwin, Dan Ellett, Connor Young (Matt Rowe 77), Mark Rothery, Ashley Brown (Dane Luchford 46), Tom Hill (Richard Sinden 62), Vince Collis (Nick Watts 72).
Goal: Ashley Brown 23
Herne Bay: Dan Eason, Sam Baker (Nathan Eastwood 65), Shaun Bremner, John Ralph, Jamie Maxted, David Crofts (Jake Gess 75), Dan Lawrence, Simon Brown, Stuart King (Robert Lawrence 63), James Turner (Ben Brown 75), Byron Walker (Michael Turner 56).
Goal: Stuart King 40
Booked: John Ralph 63
Attendance: 141
Referee: Mr Saul Kay (Sittingbourne)
Assistants: Mr Steve Brown (Ashford) & Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)
Fourth Official: Mr Jack Packman (Margate)
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