Faversham Town 1-4 Whitstable Town - It's definately one of the highlights of the season - Southall

FAVERSHAM TOWN  1-4  WHITSTABLE TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 9^th March 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Salters Lane

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Nicky Southall described their surprise 4-1 victory away to second-placed Faversham Town as one of the highlights of the season.  


The Oystermen fully deserved their victory against a Faversham Town side that went into the game on an eight-match unbeaten run, with 61 points from 33 games, five points behind leaders Maidstone United.

Third-from-bottom Whitstable Town went into this local derby having lost their last three games, leaking 12 goals in the process, and without a win in five.

Not even the most optimistic Whitstable Town supporter would have dreamt that their side would have defeated their high-flying neighbours in such a manner.

Southall’s side got off to a flying start by taking the lead inside the opening six minutes, courtesy of left-back Tom Brunt scoring from 30-yards.

Michael Smissen scored against his former club to double their lead after only sixteen minutes.

Faversham Town pulled a goal back seven minutes into the second half when Danny Hockton won and converted a penalty.

Faversham then enjoyed a good spell and substitute Kieran Oliver missed a sitter thirteen minutes from time, before Whitstable punished the home side with two quality goals, from Jake Beecroft and Oliver Lee, to leapfrog over Horsham into nineteenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 34 points from 32 games.

Whitstable Town remain seven points clear of the sole relegation berth, occupied by Three Bridges, who beat Walton & Hersham 1-0 at home today.

”The last few weeks nobody would’ve expected it but this week we’ve had a good week,” said Southall after his club’s ninth league win of the season.

”We’ve had two good days of training, we’ve trained Tuesday and Thursday and a bit of organisation on a training ground at times you can really organise the boys in the manner that you’re looking to do.

”I just can’t fault the boys’ today, their work-rate in a local derby. It was fantastic.  We’ve scored some fantastic goals, which could have graced any ground.  I’m really delighted.

”Nobody gave us a chance against a very good Faversham team who are up there for the right reasons. Faversham have done really well and we’ve had them watched over the last few weeks and I’ve got to say this morning when I woke up I was thinking what am I going to get from my team. We’ve had a rough, rough time of it of late.

”I went to the press last week (after losing 5-0 at home to Leatherhead) and said to my players it was a disgusting performance. It wasn’t good enough against Leatherhead and look at that and the way we played today. There will be no slagging my players off because they deserved all the plaudits they get and we’ve got to carry that on now.”

Faversham Town boss Ray Turner revealed there was a somber dressing room after his side suffered their seventh-league defeat of the season, that sees them slip down a place to third.

”I can’t say I was expecting that after the way we’ve been performing,” admitted Turner.

”We’ve been on an outstanding eight-match unbeaten run. We did warn the boys how hard Whitstable were going to work and what it meant to them to win today. We didn’t respond.”

Turner added: “I don’t think there’s anyone that can really hold their hand up and played anywhere near their full potential today.

”But we’ve got to take it. I’ve just said to the boys’, there’s no point hiding. We’ve been on a great run and got ourselves and this football club in a great position and there’s going to be a lot bigger games coming up in the near future and it’s just a case of they’ve done well for me as a group. They’ve stuck together and they’ve responded well when they’ve had a disappointment so we need to do that next week.”

Whitstable Town got their tactics spot on as James Morrish sat on Faversham Town’s midfield magician Darren Marsden and the home side struggled to deal with their visitors’ desire.

Southall said: “We’ve had them watched. We knew their strengths and weaknesses. Marsden is clever, he gets into little holes in behind the front man and we nullified them.”

Turner added: “He (Marsden) didn’t influence the game that well but he was outstanding on Tuesday but we had very little influence on the game in terms of controlling the game in midfield. Whitstable worked ever so hard and they got a deserved victory and you just have to put your hands up and take it on the chin.

”They’ve done well here in the past and they’ve done well here again today. They’ve attacked every ball in the box.”

Whitstable Town opened the scoring with only 5 minutes and 21 seconds on the clock, with Turner blaming his goalkeeper for setting the tone for the Lilywhites.

Faversham right-back Aidan Sherlock played the ball out of defence and it was picked up by Whitstable left-back Brunt, who took the ball forward before unleashing a low right-footed drive from 30-yards, which bounced underneath the diving Simon Overland for the ball to nestle into the bottom near corner.

Southall said: “I’m delighted with Tom. He’s come from a real good background at Gillingham. I’ve worked with him over the last two or three seasons. He’s stepped in front of the guy and it’s traveled towards the goal and he’s got a great strike on him when he unleashes one and luckily enough the keeper has had a bit of a howler to be fair.  Sometimes you need that to get you going.”

Turner said: “I think the tone was set very early on with a mistake and to be fair to Simon he’s been outstanding for me this season so I’m not about to point the finger but it did set the tone. It certainly gave them a lift.”

Whitstable’s giant target-man David Raggett caused mayhem for Faversham’s defence throughout the game and he flicked on Brunt’s cross but Beecroft thumped his right-footed volley over from 20-yards.

Whitstable Town deservedly doubled their lead and the big-man played a key part.

James Everitt, who has also played for Folkestone Invicta and Hythe Town this season, threw the ball in and Raggett flicked the ball across the box for Smissen to nod his header down and across Overland for the ball to creep inside the far corner from six-yards.

Southall was pleased that Smissen returned to Salters Lane to score against his old club – and explained why he was replaced by Danny Williams at the break.

”I’m really pleased for Buster. It’s his old club. He came off at half-time with a bit of a sore knee so we have to look after him with all the games coming off.”

Turner said: “We’ve conceded a poor second goal from a set-piece, which is unlike us and we’ve given ourselves a real uphill battle from there.

”You’re disappointed with all goals you concede. We’re normally pretty good defending the throw-ins and we’ve got plenty of height in there so there’s no excuse.”

Turner added: ”We’ve given a team that’s low on confidence a huge lift and made it difficult for ourselves and we’ve done that all game really. We’ve just made poor decisions today.

”It looked like a few of us we’re off the pace today. We’ve had a few players coming back from injury, illness and suspension and it showed. But the boys that went out there first half should have been good enough to impose themselves and they weren’t and it was a poor performance.”

Sherlock was having a poor game and he gifted Raggett the ball, but the Whitstable target-man stretched to poke his shot into Overland’s gloves.

Faversham Town’s first chance arrived in the 26^th minute, courtesy of their two wingers.

Danny Lawrence played an excellent diagonal pass to release Renford Tenyue down the left and after bringing the ball under control he steered his left-footed shot narrowly wide of the foot of the near post from a tight angle from eight-yards.

Smissen latched on to a ball over the top of a flat-footed Faversham defence but Overland made amends for his earlier blunder, clawing away the striker’s right-footed shot.

Southall added: “Buster had another chance. He ran through the right-hand side and the keeper’s made a good save. We could’ve been 3-0!”

Faversham Town created a similar chance in the 31^st minute when Toby Ashmore clipped the ball over the top and Luke Harvey shrugged off the attentions from Micheal Everitt before steering a low right-footed shot, which was blocked by visiting keeper Dean Ruddy.

That was to be the last chance of the first half.

Southall warned: “I said to the boys’, they’ll come out fighting, which they did.  Their manager and Clive (Walker) would’ve got into them at half-time and they came out with a bit more purpose.  I still felt in control of the game.”

Faversham pressed for a vital goal and they were given a lifeline in the 52^nd minute.

Ashmore drove a free-kick from midfield into the penalty area and James Everitt became one of four players to be booked by referee Paul Johnson for raising his legs to foul Hockton inside the box.

Hockton, who was otherwise quiet, stepped up and clipped his right-footed penalty over the diving Ruddy to find the left corner of the net.

Turner said: “That’s pretty emphatic wasn’t it? There’s no doubt in that. He’s tucked it away well. He needed a goal. He’s getting more and more minutes for us and he needed that goal so I suppose that’s one minor bright spark in the game.”

Southall added: “It was touch and go. As soon as you start lifting your legs high up in the box then obviously you’re going to leave yourself open to the referee.

”We gave a sloppy penalty away, which when you’re 2-1 and the position we’re in and what happened last week, you get a bit edgy and you start getting a bit nervy but the third goal settled us down. It was absolutely terrific!

”We were tested today in spells of the game, especially when we went 2-1 up, but the boys’ dug in. We saw a seize mentality, which I’ve asked for.  You go 2-1 and you’ve got to start re-grouping and start pulling together again.”

Beecroft issued Faversham a warning of what was to come later when he cracked a right-footed volley from 22-yards, which rose high above the crossbar towards the adjacent cricket ground.

Whitstable forced Overland into making a smart low save to his left in the 66^th minute.

Lawrence swung in a corner from the left, which was punched away by Ruddy and the away side cleared and broke away swiftly.  Beecroft then released Scott Heard down the left and he cut inside Sherlock before stroking a right-footed shot towards the bottom far corner, but Overland made the save.

Harvey clipped a right-footed angled shot across Ruddy and past the far post to the delight of the vocal traveling fans.

Raggett was certainly an outlet for Whitstable and he met James Everitt’s throw again to flick the ball on and substitute Danny Williams’ overhead kick was gathered by Ruddy.

Raggett then dragged his angled right-footed shot across Overland and past the far post as the game entered the final twenty minutes.

Southall said: “I put young Raggett in there today and he was absolutely immense.  The size of him, he could be anything. He just needs coaching. The way he ran today and the way he put the commitment for the club today I’ve ever seen a forward do this season.  His work rate and attitude was outstanding. I just wished he got on the scoresheet for his confidence.  He’s not the most gifted player with his back to goal but he’s learning.”


Turner admitted: “I think we’ve had problems dealing with their front guy from the first minute and we never got to grips with that.”

Faversham Town turned defence into a swift attack, but they missed a sitter to equalise with thirteen minutes left.

Heard played a low centre in from the left into the Faversham penalty area but Raggett slipped and Faversham broke away.  Marsden released Tenyue down the left flank and the winger reached the by-line before whipping in a low cross with his left foot towards the near post for the unmarked Oliver to sweep his right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the foot of the left-hand post from six-yards.

Turner said: “It was a massive turning point in the game. I thought if Kieran equalised – that was our strongest spell of the game - I felt pretty sure we would’ve gone on and perhaps won the game, the way the game was going at that point. I thought we were looking quite strong after we got the goal back but it wasn’t to be.

”It’s always key situations you have to take advantage of and if you don’t take advantage of it you can guarantee the other team will punish you!”

Southall said: “To be fair it was a foul leading up to it. He’s pulled Ollie Lee down just leading up to it because that’s why he stood there free with nobody on him.”

Southall admitted: “We’ve got away with that one!”

Oliver’s gilt-edged miss proved to be the game’s turning point, because Whitstable went on to score two quality goals.

Raggett used his strength to shrug off Sherlock in the corner of the pitch and he played the ball across to James Everitt, who played the ball inside to Beecroft, who took the ball forward before unleashing a stunning right-footed drive from 30-yards, which curled into the top left-hand corner with eight minutes left.

”The turning point was that bit of class from Jake Beecroft,” added Southall.

”Fantastic little change of direction of the ball. A fantastic goal, curled it into the top corner.  He’s got that all day long. He’s got some ability. He should be playing in a higher league and I want to be playing in a higher league with him and I want to take him there.  He’s got that about him. He’s getting married shortly so that’s a good tonic for him. Hopefully he’ll stay with us and takes us where we want to go.”

Turner added: “It was a good goal, the third goal, but again defensively we’ve made it too easy to get the shot in, but he’s scored a good goal.”

That goal dented shell-shocked Faversham’s confidence and Williams’ cut back was met by James Everitt, whose shot was tipped over by Ruddy, before Lee sent his header wide following Beecroft’s resulting corner from the left.

Southall hailed his side’s fourth goal worthy of one that would have graced a much higher level than this.

Lee picked the ball up inside Faversham’s half and swept the ball out wide to Beecroft, who had time and space to whip in an excellent cross with his right-foot and Lee (who continued his run untracked into the box) was left unmarked at the far post to power his bullet header into the left corner from six-yards.

”And the fourth goal was a brilliant team goal,” hailed former Gillingham ace Southall, who played in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers.

”It was a great win in the middle of the park by Morrish and Ratty (James Everitt) were at it all day and we played it out wide and a great ball in by Jake Beecroft and Ollie Lee has just carried his run on and a great flying header into the bottom corner and it was a fantastic goal!

”To be honest the goal was too good for this league, I think personally. A few of the goals were too good for this league but we are where we are. We know we’re not going to get carried away. We’ve got some big games ahead of us.”

Turner added: “I think the game was decided by the third one, not the fourth one. I think we became very open and loose at that point. He’s put a very good ball in. They’ve attacked balls in both boxes better than us today.

Faversham were denied a second goal when Lawrence swung in another corner from the left towards the far post and central defender Matt Bourne sent his diving header, which bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Whitstable created a further two chances inside injury time.  Another cross from highly-rated Beecroft was met by a glancing header from substitute Dan Henshaw, which sailed wide, before Williams flashed his left-footed drive wide.

The final whistle brought huge celebrations from the traveling fans – hailed as Whitstable’s twelth man by Southall – and chairman Gary Johnson delivered a crate of lager to the dressing room for his players to celebrate a great victory.

Whitstable Town can edge ten points clear of basement side Three Bridges if they win at Horsham on Tuesday night.

Southall believes eight more points will retain the club’s Ryman League status for another season.

He said: “We want to get 40 points, so if we get 40 points I think that will do it.   Three Bridges have got eight games left and we’ve got ten. We can’t worry about them. We just have to worry about what we do and if we do what we did today then we’ll be ok.”

Faversham are now eight points behind leaders Maidstone United and eight points clear of fifth-placed Leatherhead.

The Lilywhites’ next game is away to Crawley Down Gatwick next Saturday, before facing Worthing, Hythe Town, Sittingbourne, Dulwich Hamlet, Maidstone United, Merstham and Leatherhead.

Turner said: ”My players’ are a great bunch. I’ve said to them I’ve shown belief in a small group of players since June and we’ve all been in that dressing room together since June and they’ve always responded well to disappointment.

”There’s going to be much bigger games coming up, coming our way and we either hide or we come out and respond. I’ve got no reason to doubt that we can’t come back and respond quickly.”

Southall, meanwhile, was delighted with the numbers of supporters that made the short trip to Salters Lane.

He said: “I think we definitely outnumbered their fans. It just seemed to be all Whitstable here. It was a great attendance from our fans. I fully appreciate it. They were the twelfth man today. They really got behind our boys and I appreciate it and there was a fantastic noise at the end when we got the win.

”It’s a great day for the club. We won’t get too carried away, but it’s a great day. It’s nice to come off a back of a Kent derby and win for once. We’ve had a few Kent derbies and lost. We’ve come here, a close rivalry and we’ve got a great, great 4-1 victory and fully deserved. Definitely one of the highlights of the season.”

Turner couldn’t hide his disappointment that his side failed to perform in front of a larger than normal crowd.

”It’s a shame again, our biggest crowds we’ve maybe been a bit disappointing in, in terms of performances so that doesn’t help.  I won’t apologise. I won’t go as far as apologising to the fans because they know how hard the boys have worked all season. It was a bit of a blip today and there’s a disappointment that you can’t put on a performance for a bigger crowd for them to want to come back and maybe see (Worthing) in a couple weeks time.

”But the crowd have always been positive and behind the team. You saw today it was Whitstable’s day and their fans have enjoyed their day.”
 
Faversham Town: Simon Overland, Aidan Sherlock, Jamie Maxted, Toby Ashmore (Dave Botterill 60), Matt Bourne, Ashley Brown, Danny Lawrence, Darren Marsden, Danny Hockton (Kieran Oliver 62), Luke Harvey (Wayne Wilson 76), Renford Tenyue.
Subs: Aaron Lacy, Wesley Miller

Goal: Danny Hockton 52 (penalty)

Booked: Matt Bourne 26, Danny Lawrence 42

Whitstable Town: Dean Ruddy, Tom Axford (Billy Cobb 90), Tom Brunt, Micheal Everitt, Oliver Lee, James Everitt, Jake Beecroft, James Morrish, Michael Smissen (Danny Williams 46), David Raggett (Dan Henshaw 90), Scott Heard.
Subs: Jake MacKenzie, George Crimmen

Goals: Tom Brunt 6, Michael Smissen 16, Jake Beecroft 82, Oliver Lee 87

Booked: Michael Smissen 34, James Everitt 52

Attendance: 254
Referee: Mr Paul Johnson (Raynes Park, London SW20)
Assistants: Mr Mike Cohen (Worcester Park, Surrey) & Mr Philip Jones (Epsom, Surrey)