Hythe Town 2-1 Faversham Town - I don't think we were at our best, admits unbeaten Porter

Saturday 12th September 2009

HYTHE TOWN 2-1 FAVERSHAM TOWN
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round
Saturday 12th September 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Reachfields Stadium

SCOTT PORTER holds the physiological advantage over Faversham Town going into next Saturday’s Kent League clash between these two heavyweights - as his Hythe Town side booked their place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup today.

Pat Kingwell’s eighth goal of the season (in only six games) gave Porter’s side an early lead, but they failed to take their chances and Faversham levelled with seventeen minutes remaining when skipper Tom Hickman finished off a good move.

But any chances of a Salters Lane midweek replay were dashed as Dave Cook’s looping shot dropped in underneath the bar with only seven minutes remaining to stretch Hythe’s unbeaten run in all competitions to six games.

Wins over Whitehawk (2-1), Eastbourne Town (4-0) and today’s success over fellow Kent League heavyweights, mean that Hythe have now banked a total of £5,250 in much-needed prize money from the Football Association.

And Hythe will be a match for anybody at fortress Reachfields Stadium in the next round - the draw takes place on Monday lunchtime.

There could be three Kent League sides in the next round, if Deal Town and Erith Town win on the road in their midweek replays.

Deal were held to a 1-1 draw by Selsey - whilst the Dockers were indebted to Ben Yiadom’s last-gasp leveller as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Aylesbury.

Hythe goalkeeper, Kieron Mann, who had signed a contract leading up to the game, made a comfortable save from Damian Abel as early as the fourth minute, but in truth, the former Folkestone Invicta goalkeeper was rarely tested on a sunny and warm day.

And it was Hythe that broke the deadlock - against the run of play at the time - through Kingwell’s eleventh minute strike.

The in-form striker was released through on goal by Lee Winfield’s slick pass and with only keeper Rob French to beat, swept a clinical right-footed shot into the net from twelve yards.

After Faversham striker Michael Smissen was pushed over by Roy Guiver, following Dale Skelton’s ball over the top, Skelton touched a free-kick to Dan Larkin, but the left-back’s left-footed drive deflected into Mann’s grateful arms.

Faversham should have levelled after 32 minute - but the base of the post saved the home side.

Right-back Jamie Sparks’ ball up field was flicked on by Damian Abel and this released Smissen through on goal.

The striker’s angled right-footed drive flashed past Mann, but his shot bounced agonisingly off the base of the far post and Dave Soutan blazed the rebound high over the bar when he really should have equalised.

One goal was never going to be enough, and Hythe thought they had doubled their lead, just 99 seconds into the second half.

Tom Adlington floated in a cross from the right and Cook leapt to head across French and the ball floated into the far corner - but celebrations quickly died down due to an offside flag.

The half-time introduction of right-sided midfielder Jack Tanner lifted Faversham, although they found the Hythe defence resilient.

Hythe should have buried the unbeaten league leaders in the 63rd minute, but Sparks was in the right place at the right time.

Winfield’s floated cross was brought under control by Kingwell’s chest before he stabbed a right-footed shot towards goal, but this was beaten out by giant keeper French.

But the former Ebbsfleet United third-choice goalkeeper was beaten by Kingwell‘s follow up, but his shot was hacked away by Sparks, who was positioned in the middle of the goal, on the goal-line.

There was plenty of tension around the stadium as Hythe were on the brink.

But the expectation from their supporters was dealt a massive blow, as Faversham levelled with 73 minutes on the clock, courtesy of their best move of the game.

Hickman’s first goal of the season brought a huge roar from Faversham’s travelling supporters, who were silent throughout the rest of the game.

Abel released Dane Luchford down the right and after cutting inside Adlington, Luchford slipped the ball in behind the Hythe defence to the unmarked Hickman at the far post, who made no mistake from ten-yards.

Kieran Byrne, upon latching onto Mann’s long clearance, really should have done better, instead of smashing a drive past the post as Hythe went for the winner.

But he made up for that glaring miss as it was his corner from the left that produced the knockout punch.

The flag-kick was brought under control by Cook at the near post and after turning, his shot looped over French and dropped in underneath the crossbar and Hythe were on the brink to booking their place in the next round.

Despite their strike options, Faversham didn’t trouble Mann again, and Hythe did all they could do run down the clock.

And in stoppage time, when the ball ran loose from being held up in the corner, Winfield sprayed an intelligent cross-field pass to Byrne, who cut in and drove a shot into French’s arms.

Porter, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, knows his side are now only three wins away from reaching the first round proper.

“It’s a good feeling for the club and for the players,” he said on his side’s progression.

“Faversham are a very direct side, they play very direct with the strikers up front and I knew that we had to deal with it. The lads dealt with it very well and to be honest with you we had some clear cut chances and we could’ve finished the game off but we dug in.

“It’s great for the club. Three grand in the bank and another win really and that’s the main thing.”

Porter admitted his side didn’t play to their potential - due to Faversham’s direct style.

“We like to play football and we couldn’t get it down as much as we’d like to as it was just bombarding our midfield because they were very direct,” he said.

“They got themselves back into the game, like it was going to happen, but I think we defended well. Our keeper didn’t have a save to make, they hit the post and they’ve scored and that’s it!

“We could’ve wrapped the game up but a great performance by everyone.

“I don’t think we were at our best because we didn’t get into the game because of the way they play so we have to look at a few more things for next Saturday.”

For fellow rookie manager, Faversham Town’s Justin Luchford, he was disappointed that his side never really got going in the heat.

“I thought we only played for twenty minutes really in the second half,” the 32-year-old told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“We got the goal back and I thought we were on top, without really troubling the goalkeeper to be honest. I don’t think both goalkeepers didn’t make loads and loads of saves but I think Hythe fully deserved it today to be honest.

“We conceded two really, really poor goals today, really poor goals and we’ve got to irradiate that and that’s what we’ve got to get right.

“Other than that, there’s bits and pieces we can do better at, but that’s one of the fundamental things that we could’ve done.

“All in all, they know, the boys know they haven’t done enough but as I said at the beginning of the week, I kept trying to tell everyone about enjoying it and they lost sight of it today.”

Meanwhile, full marks must go to Eltham based referee, Constantine Hatzidakis, who handled today’s Kent showdown excellently.

All attention now turns to the Kent League game here at Reachfields Stadium between these two sides in seven days time.

When asked whether his side can defeat Faversham in the league, Porter replied, “I think so. I wouldn’t be the manager wanting to win the title if I didn’t think we could beat Faversham or anyone.”

Luchford, whose side lost top-spot to Herne Bay, who completed an early double over tenants Norton Sports today, demands that his side put in hard graft.

“You’re not going to come to Hythe and get results without hard work,” he said.

But he added: “I won’t even need to have to give them a team-talk. We will prepare totally different to the way we prepared this week. We will be turning up earlier (instead of 70 minutes before kick-off) and we’ll be ready.”

Hythe Town: Kieron Mann, Tom Adlington, John Walker, Roy Guiver, Gavin Ransley, Gary Clarke, Dave Cook, Adam Hooper (Aiden Pursglove 75), Kieran Byrne, Pat Kingwell, Lee Winfield.
Subs: Barry Beaney, Mark Bond, Scott Punton, Joe Bullard, Sam Marsh, John Sparks.

Goals: Pat Kingwell 11, Dave Cook 83

Faversham Town: Rob French, Jamie Sparks, Dan Larkin, Tom Hickman, Ashley Brown, Lee Shearer, Dale Skelton, Damian Abel, Michael Smissen, Dave Soutan (Jack Tanner 46), Dane Luchford (Richard Sinden 83).
Subs: Aaron Quain, Craig Thompson, Chris Axford, Nick Shaw.

Goal: Tom Hickman 73

Booked: Jack Tanner 68, Dale Skelton 90

Attendance: 215
Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis (Eltham, London SE9)
Assistants: Mr Trevor Cogley (Sidcup) & Mr Peter Cruise (Darenth)