Faversham Town 4-0 Sittingbourne - It was important to bounce back, says Faversham boss Ray Turner

FAVERSHAM TOWN  4-0  SITTINGBOURNE
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 27^th December 2011
Paul Parkinson reports from Salters Lane

A brace apiece from Aaron Quain and Adrian Stone sealed a clinical performance from Faversham Town, their biggest win of the season to date, and one that moves the Lillywhites up to ninth place in the Ryman League Division One South table.



For a lack-lustre Sittingbourne though, who remain in 15th place, it is now four games without a goal, but it was the performance once their hosts had taken the lead that upset manager Joe Dowley most.  

The Brickies boss was forthright stating, “I’m a bit speechless to be honest because, to lose 4-0 - and fair play to Faversham, they took their chances and defended well but, I don’t think they are four goals better than us.  

“When you give teams goals, like we did, you’re not going to win games, and I’m gutted.  It’s one of those nights where we’ve made mistakes, not taken our chances, and it has cost us dearly.”

“It’s been the same story for the last month or so.  We’re not taking our chances, and that’s another reason why I’m annoyed.  Luke (Coleman) should score his chance, but it’s his first game for me.  He should score, but then they go up the other end and score straight away and then it’s 3-0 and they’ve taken it well.  If he gets it back to 2-1 it’s a totally different game with about half an hour to play.”

“The heads seemed to go down after the first goal; they seemed to go straight away.  I said at half-time that we needed to raise our game, show a bit of character, and we started OK, but didn’t do what I wanted them to.  It was just basic defending; three headers in the box, they score two goals from two crosses that we shouldn’t be giving away.””

In contrast, Faversham manager Ray Turner said: “I think it’s always important to bounce back from a disappointing performance (last time out  a 2-1 reverse against Chipstead).  There’s nothing better than having local rivals come to you and for once, we’ve got away from a team for the first time this season.”

“One of our problems has been getting in front, but not seeing the game out.  Tonight, we’ve got stronger and stronger.  I felt Sittingbourne contributed fully to the game, it was close at certain stages, and Rob French had had to make a save at 2-0 that has changed the complexion, but generally I thought we were on top second half.  It’s great to get away from a team and get a convincing win.””

A poor first half hour, bereft of chances, gave little indication of how the final score would end up.  

Indeed the only real excitement came in the 11th minute as a Quain corner was bundled goalwards by Ashley Brown, but somehow, with the Lilywhites players and fans alike appealing for a goal, the ball was scrambled off the line as players converged from all angles.

On the half hour, the lively Sittingbourne right winger, Ryan Palmer managed to get round Nathan Simpson, but saw his low shot squeeze past Rob French’s dive and strike the outside of the left hand post.

This just served to kick the hosts into life as five minutes later, Aaron Quain ran onto a long ball pumped over the Sititngbourne back line, held off Jon Hogg and slid his shot into the bottom left corner to give Faversham the lead.

The Brickies tried to hit back in the closing minutes as two right wing corners caused chaos in the home area.  First, Brown’s header skewed awkwardly over his own bar, then, after French fumbled a deep corner, Ryan Golding’s scuffed shot was hooked off the line by Mobolaji Dawodu.

Half-time saw an extended break due to an injury to Mr Venamore, but fortunately a number of officials were present at the game, and Paul Harris stepped forward to run the line in the second half.

Sittingbourne had an early half chance with Palmer’s effort being easily gathered by French, but Faversham doubled their lead on 52 minutes courtesy of Stone’s 11th of the season, and first for a month.  

Brown picked up the ball just inside the Sittingbourne half and swung a cross in towards the edge of the box, where Stone, unmarked, was able to place his header into the right hand corner, past a stationery Matt Reed.

In response to this, Dowley sent on Luke Coleman and Joe Nwoko for Golding and Hicham Akhazzan, and as players tired, the game started to open up.

Joe Goldsmith had two good opportunities for the visitors; shooting straight at French on the turn from the edge of the area, then heading Hogg’s free kick past the post.

Reed had to be at his best to parry Justin Ascheri’s angled shot away from goal, after a pinpoint Quain cross-field ball, but the turning point really came with 15 minutes left.

Josh West flicked a ball onto Coleman, who broke into the Faversham area, and one-on-one with French, the keeper pulled off a wonderful save to deny the Brickies substitute as he tried to dribble past.

After Coleman hit a dipping volley just over the bar with ten minutes remaining, Faversham sealed the victory with two well taken goals.  

First, on 82 minutes, Quain ran onto another long ball from Ashley Brown and drilled a low left footed shot beyond Reed for his 9th this season.

Then with two minutes left, Stone picked up his second, powering a header home from 10 yards, but it was the build-up that caused most concern for Dowley.  Simon Brown found himself trapped in the right corner by three Sittingbourne defenders, but somehow worked the ball back to Dawodu, whose pinpoint cross was met by the unmarked Stone.

Turner, after the match was full of praise for his two goalscorers, as he said: “I thought that was Adrian’s best game for a long time.  He contributed in all areas of the game, with his link-up play, and we asked him to get into the box more. He hasn’t been scoring much recently (1 goal in 10 before tonight), but he got in tonight for two great headers from early crosses, another area we’ve been working on, and he’s fully deserved his two goals.”

“I think Aaron needed those goals as well (his last was on 1st November) as he would admit, he’s had a dip in form, but he’s flying again now.  It’s important that he shows consistency, and I think it showed that once he got his first goal, he kicked onto a different level and he was outstanding.”

Faversham Town:  Rob French, Mobolaji Dawodu, Nathan Simpson, Tom Hickman, James Peacock, Ashley Brown, Justin Ascheri (Dale Skelton 86), Dave Botterill, Adrian Stone, Danny Hockton (Simon Brown 63), Aaron Quain (Nicky Moir 87).
Subs: Sam Gore, Joe Ainsley

Goals: Aaron Quain 35, 82, Adrian Stone 52, 88

Booked: Adrian Stone 89

Sittingbourne:  Matt Reed, Ryan Cooper, Dan Palfrey, Luke Girt, Cedric Abraham, Jonathan Hogg, Ryan Palmer, Joe Goldsmith, Ryan Golding (Luke Coleman 53), Josh West, Hicham Akhazzan (Joe Nwoko 60).
Subs: Jaie Nuttall, Brendon Cullen, Anthony Hogg

Booked: Jonathan Hogg 56, Ryan Cooper 63, Joe Goldsmith 64, Josh West 75

Attendance:  294
Referee: Mr Lee Venamore (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks) & Mr David Smart (Maidstone)