Kentish Football 
Faversham Town 1-2 Chipstead - We just have to regroup for Christmas, says Ray Turner
Tuesday 20th December 2011
FAVERSHAM TOWN 1-2 CHIPSTEADRyman League Division One South
Tuesday 20th December 2011
Mike Green reports from Salters Lane
"Well that wasn't very good was it?" The frank assessment of Faversham Town's boss Ray Turner as his side stumbled to defeat in their final game before Christmas, and two goals in three second half minutes in the end gave Chipstead a deserved victory at Salters Lane as they moved to within three points of the Division's top six.
To be fair, on the night Chipstead eventually were the better side, but after a bitterly disappointing first half, the hardy soles that braved an increasingly cold night couldn't help but think that maybe the office party may have been a better option after all, as the opening half, despite the efforts of referee Mr Andy Mead to keep the game flowing where others would have whistled and halted an already disappointing opening half.
Indeed the only real chance of any note fell to the home side just past the half hour Dave Botterill's magnificent cross field pass fell to Justin Ascheri, who laid the ball back to Adrian Stone, who's first time drive was really well blocked by Chipstead keeper Steve Northwood.
But in truth that was the only real action either keeper had to face, and as the crowd filed round for the complimentary mulled wine and mince pies that the club provided in the club house during the interval, there was hope that the fare in front of them would improve.
Home hearts weren’t helped right at the start of the second when top scorer Stone failed to reappear suffering from a hamstring pull.
With Dale Skelton's introduction, the home side were forced into yet another formation change for the home side, as Turner frustratingly confirmed.
He said: "We lost Danny Hockton after Saturday which meant we had to change things around before the start and then of course we lost Stoney at half time which meant another change in formation and personnel.
I really don’t know why we were so lethargic tonight - it was our sixth game in December and I don’t want to say that we lost our fitness and looked tired but you have to say that that's what it looked like.
“And what's even more disappointing is the two goals that we conceded - two very poor goals for us to give away especially as at that stage the game looked like it was going no where fast, which in truth was like our home midweek game last week against Walton. Then though we edged it but tonight we didn't so in that respect I guess that we cant really complain - but I'm really disappointed tonight."
And yet the second half started so brightly for the home side as Aaron Quain's 25- yard free kick beat Northwood but thundered back off of the left post.
Chipstead's first real chance arrived on 62 minutes when Marcus Elliott's fine run and shot brought out a fine low save from Rob French in the home goal, and it was almost as though Mark Tompkins’ side suddenly found some belief that maybe the points were there's for the taking, as they suddenly upped the tempo that rocked the home side on their heels with two goals in three minutes following a substitution that saw midfielder Alex Wilkes enter the game.
The breakthrough arrived on 65 minutes. Wilkes played a great ball down the channel for Martin Grant, who did well to pull the book back for Elliott, who's shot was blocked, only for the rebound to fall to Jason Goodchild who gleefully drilled the ball into the roof of the net with French helpless on the floor after the initial block.
The second came three minutes later and again Wilkes was involved. The substitute did really well down and put over the perfect cross that Callum O'Shea met at the far post - sweeping home before getting mobbed by his team mates.
Two down and now in deep trouble, Simon Brown, Justin Ascheri, and Skelton combined well down the right but just as Skelton went to shoot, the ball bobbled horribly and he dragged his shot wide of the right post.
Botterril then went closer as he was denied by a smart Northwood save, but there didn’t seem a way back for Faversham - until that is the visitors gifted the Lilywhites a way back into the game.
Ascheri's cross was handled by Rob Watkins and Botterrill drilled home the spot kick beyond the diving keeper.
The home side almost gained an unlikely point deep in stoppage time but from a corner, the ball ricocheted through the box rather than deflecting home.
It would have been tough on a very well organised Chipstead side had Faversham levelled at the death - a point that manager Turner confirmed.
"We didn’t deserve anything tonight - yet we could have got a point right at the end there. But fair play to them, they're a good side who deserved their win tonight.
“We've just got to re-group and go again over Christmas when we've got too very tough derbies against Sittingbourne and Hythe."
Faversham Town: Rob French, Bola Dawoda, Sam Gore, Tom Hickman, Matt Bourne, Ashley Brown, Justin Ascheri, Simon Brown (Nicky Moir 79), Adrian Stone (Dale Skelton 46), Aaron Quain (Dan Ellett 86), Dave Botterill.
Subs: James Peacock, Joe Ainsley
Goal: Dave Botterill 90 (pen)
Booked: Dave Botterill 39, Bola Dawoda 66, Justin Ascheri 90
Chipstead: Steve Northwood, Matt York, Bruce Hogg, Rob Watkins, Tom Battams, Russell Bedford (Alex Wilks 65), Jason Goodchild, Wayne Grizzle, Martin Grant (Julian Thompson 76), Marcus Elliott (Jordan Brown 72), Callum O'Shea.
Subs: Owen Davies, Martin R Grant
Goals: Jason Goodchild 65, Callum O’Shea 68
Booked: Jason Goodchild 62, Wayne Grizzle 90
Attendance: 115
Referee: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Philip Rowley (Canterbury) & Mr Aji Ajibola (Erith)
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