Maidstone United 1-2 Faversham Town - We're competing with and beating the best, says Ray Turner

MAIDSTONE UNITED  1-2  FAVERSHAM TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 13^th April 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from James Whatman Way

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Ray Turner hailed their victory over league leaders Maidstone United as the greatest in the club’s recent history.

Maidstone United surrendered top-spot in the Ryman League Division One South table for the first time since 15 January after they suffered their third home league defeat of the season and manager Jay Saunders admitted afterwards that his side must settle for a play-off place.

Watched by Maidstone United’s second largest league crowd of the season, Faversham Town claimed the three points in the rain.  Their 12th away win on the road sees The Lilywhites leapfrog over Ramsgate into fourth-place in the table.

Dulwich Hamlet, who thumped basement side Walton Casuals 5-0 at Champion Hill today, are in the box seat with 82 points from 38 games, with a game in hand over wasteful Stones.

Maidstone United slipped down a place, with 79 points with three games left, followed by three of their Kent rivals in the other play-off spots in the shape of Hythe Town (71 points from 39 games), Faversham Town (68 points from 39 games) and Ramsgate (66 points from 40 games). 

Folkestone Invicta are waiting to pounce, sitting in sixth-place, with 65 points, but only have two league games left to play.

Faversham Town grabbed a controversial 67^th minute opener through striker Luke Harvey, who appeared to have fouled goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim before slotting the ball home into an empty net.

But Maidstone United clawed themselves back into the game when Faversham defender Matt Bourne was accredited with an own-goal, before former Stones striker Danny Hockton drilled a low shot into the bottom corner with only two minutes remaining to win it for Faversham, sending large numbers of the home fans heading for the exits.

Maidstone United boss Jay Saunders, who yesterday extended his contract until the end of next season, rued missed chances for their costly sixth league defeat of the campaign.

“Overall, I thought the performance was alright,” said Saunders. “We just didn’t take our chances.  If you don’t take your chances, you’re always liable to concede goals.

“I thought we’ve dominated the game from start to finish.  I don’t remember them creating us too many problems other than long range shorts but fair play to them, they’ve come here and snatched a win and we’ve got to move on.”

Saunders admitted the title is now Dulwich Hamlet’s to lose.

"We’re gutted.  I think now it’s the play-offs for us.  I think Dulwich won 5-0, that’s the goal-difference gone.  If they win their game in hand that’s one of them.

“We’ve got to get on with it really. I’ve told them to go out there, our next three games, there’s no pressure now, just enjoy it, try and get three wins under our belts and go into the play-offs with good form.”

Saunders admitted losing the title with two weeks of the season remaining could be a blessing in disguise.

He explained his thought process by saying: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be honest.  At least we now know where we stand now.  I think if you go into the last game of the season with still a chance of winning it and you lose that last game of the season you go into the play-offs (feeling) down or you miss out the last day, you go into them (feeling) down.

“At least now we’ve got a week and that to try to get our heads around it and realise where we’re at and we’ll try and do it the hard way.”

Turner was delighted with the victory, which maintained their place in the play-off picture.

“It’s been a difficult week in a way because I know Jay very well and we normally have a conversation in the week and we haven’t done that this week,” said Turner.

“We had to come here and do ourselves a favour.  It wasn’t a case of doing anyone else a favour and we most certainly done that.

“Our away record is phenomenal and what a winning goal!  Danny’s rolled back the years’ with that one!

“I’m just delighted for everyone at the football club.  Every time this football club gets asked a question in terms where we are in the league and we get put under pressure, we’ve been coming up with the answers.

“I hope this side’s grow from here and we go and secure that (play-off) spot as soon as possible.”

Turner said that this was the club’s best result since rising from the ashes of their troubled past, which saw them expelled from the Kent League for the non-payment of fines in 2003.

The club re-built and returned in 2005 and finished runners-up to Lewisham Borough in the Kent County League, which sealed promotion back into the Kent League and progress has been made ever since.

“Actually, historically it could go down as one of the best results we’ve ever got as a football club,” said Turner.

“We were nearly extinct as a club and I hope that justifies all the hard work that people have put in since 2003 to get us back up and playing football again.   We’ve come up through two county leagues and we’re in the Ryman League and now we’re not just competing but we’re competing with the best and beating the best!”

Faversham Town, who have picked up an impressive 11 wins and 5 draws from their 18 games on their travels, created the opening chance inside the opening four minutes.

Former Maidstone United favourite Aaron Lacy swung in a free-kick towards the far post for left-back Jamie Maxted to glance a downward header from eight-yards, which forced Deren Ibrahim to make a low save to his right.

But The Stones then eased on to the front foot and started to probe Simon Overland’s goal.

Impressive right-winger Rory Hill rolled the ball inside to Shaun Welford and the striker was given time and space to crack a drive from 25-yards, which took a deflection and Overland did well to dive to his right to push the shot away.

Jon Harley and Alex Brown linked up well and the ball came out to right-back Tommy Osborne, who drilled his right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the far post from 25-yards to continue his goal famine.

The Stones were putting numerous crosses into the box and Dan Stubbs swung in a free-kick into the area for Welford to rise and plant his header over from ten-yards.

A long throw into the Faversham box from winger Alex Flisher bounced off Steve Watt’s feet at the near post, which forced Overland into making a save and Stubbs blasted the loose ball over the bar.

Faversham Town’s next chance, in the 19^th minute, almost produced the game’s first goal.

Dan Lawrence slid on the ball in from the right to Hockton, who twisted and turned his marker before drilling a low angled drive with his right-foot from sixteen-yards, which forced Ibrahim into diving swiftly low to his right to make a fine block.

Then, Bourne clipped a free-kick from inside the Faversham half towards the edge of the Maidstone box for Hockton to knock the ball across the face of goal and Harvey hooked his shot straight at Ibrahim.

The Maidstone keeper then pumped the ball forward and Paul Booth released Hill through on goal, but the former Tonbridge Angels winger lost composure and lashed his right-footed shot wide when he only had Overland to beat.

Alex Brown then played the ball inside to Booth, who snatched at his shot inside the D and lashed his right-footed shot over Overland’s bar as Maidstone United continued to press.

Saunders was a frustrated figure and he said: “We possibly could’ve gone in at half-time 2-0 up because we had some real clear cut chances and we didn’t take them!

“If you take one of them or maybe two of them, it puts you in a good position second half and we didn’t do that and all the time you don’t do that, Faversham are in the game.”

But Faversham’s next attempt on target was another excellent chance in the 28^th minute.

A slick move saw midfield playmaker Darren Marsden play the ball into Lawrence, who slid the ball inside to Hockton, whose right-footed drive from 20-yards forced Ibrahim into diving low to his left to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Turner said: “I think that initial spell for 15 minutes, when they came out very strong, they had a lot of situations and they put a lot of crosses in the box, but I think from open play we actually looked very dangerous on the break.

“I put Danny in because it’s a big game in front of a big crowd and he’s done it many times before and one thing he’ll always do is he’ll shoot and sometimes we don’t take those opportunities so he’s worked the goalkeeper a couple of times.  I thought we looked quite dangerous on a couple of occasions in the first half.”

Hockton could have scored a first half hat-trick and he was repelled again by Ibrahim, whose fingers were stung at the near post after the Faversham player-coach picked up a pass from Marsden.

Faversham had another chance with the last kick of the first half when Maidstone United central defender Steve Watt headed Maxted’s cross away and Harvey teed up Hockton, whose first time right-footed drive from 25-yards flashed past the near post.

Both managers were asked their thoughts at half-time.

Saunders said: “I said at half-time, even when we dominated, I just said if you don’t do the basics well you’ll concede goals and you’ll lose the game.

“All I said was just keep trying to win the game, win your individual battles, keep playing and we will create chances and we did that.  It was just the final touch which weren’t there for us.”

Turner said: “You can never tell how players are going to react, there’s a few in there who haven’t played in front of a crowd like that, but I thought halfway through the first half we actually silenced the crowd for the last 10-15 minutes which is a testament to our efforts and the way we set up and the way we were playing.  On the whole, I thought we stayed quite calm and I don’t think we were too anxious. That was the key today.”

Turner added: “We were happy.  There was a few tactical things that we had to look at defensively and trying to stop the crosses a little bit more coming into the box.  We knew we had quite a strong wind behind us but that doesn’t always help you and the pitch was getting very slick with the rain so it was important that we played with a bit of quality up to the front men.

“It was a case of getting them concentrated really and making sure that we didn’t switch off in certain set-piece situations that Maidstone were trying to create, so it was a case of a bit of awareness and just go out and do the same again and show that belief and try to pass the ball when we had the opportunity.”

Saunders’ wise words had the desired effect as Maidstone United immediately forced their way back into the game.

Flisher played the ball outside to Stubbs, who clipped a right-footed lob from 25-yards which forced Overland into making an excellent save, stretching high to his left to use his left arm to turn the shot around the post after only 93 seconds.

The home side should have broken the stalemate shortly afterwards when Hill whipped in a cross from the right touch-line to find Flisher unmarked at the far post and his right-footed hooked volley from eight-yards was straight at Overland, who made a low block and gathered at the second attempt.

Flisher then swung in Maidstone United’s eighth corner from the right towards the far post for Welford to tower his header wide from ten-yards.

Maidstone United squandered yet another decent opportunity in the 56^th minute when Stubbs, Osborne and Harley linked up well to play the ball out to Flisher, who whipped in an excellent cross towards the near post for Hill to plant his header agonisingly over from the edge of the six-yard box.

Hill then cut a ball back to Osborne, who was given time and space to float over a cross and Welford looped his header over from eight-yards.

But Faversham Town grabbed the lead through controversial circumstances when Harvey scored his sixteenth-goal of the season.

David Botterill clipped the ball forward from just inside the Maidstone United half and Harvey chased a lost cause and contested a bouncing ball with Ibrahim, who appeared to have been fouled by the former Herne Bay striker.  Everybody in the stadium was anticipating referee Ian Fissenden to blow his whistle for a foul on the keeper but play continued and Harvey kept his composure to slide the ball around the keeper and steered his right-footed shot into the bottom near corner of an empty goal.

Both managers were asked their thoughts on the goal.

Saunders admitted Ibrahim should have dealt with Harvey better.

He said: “I didn’t really see what happened with the first one.  I think there was a few people moaning about it.  Del was upset about it.  I still think Del should’ve come out and smashed the fella for the initial bounce.  That’s what I’ve just told him.  If he does that the second bit doesn’t happen.” 

Turner praised Harvey and said: “I think his fantastic persistence in chasing things down and that’s what you’ve got to do.  I think he had every right to go for it.  I didn’t see him tug him or anything.  I just saw him compete for the ball.  Obviously they’re going to see it a different way.  He’s earned the right to go and compete for the ball.

“Generally keeper’s get a free-kick in those scenarios whenever everyone’s near them but I think on this occasion the referee’s right on it and the linesman’s there and they didn’t’ see anything wrong and to be honest he’s gone and put the ball away so that’s come from that tenacity and that ability to not give up a lost cause.”

Turner has challenged Harvey to reach 20 goals for the season.

He said: “I think he’d be the first to say perhaps he could’ve scored a few more.  It’s not through lack of endeavour or work-rate.  I think he’s lead our line exceptionally well.  We haven’t always had a second forward in terms of we haven’t had the strength-in-depth in that area that I’d perhaps would’ve liked at times but he’s lead the line fantastically well since he’s come to the club.

“His attitude is first class, as with all the players and he’s earned his sixteen goals and it’s a great return and hopefully he can work his way to the 20 mark by the end of the season.”

Maidstone United went agonisingly close to equalising only 144 seconds later when Harley whipped in an inch-perfect cross form the left flank and Booth’s header from three yards bounced off the top of the crossbar and dropped to safety.

Ibrahim had to stretch to pluck the ball out of the air above his head to deny Marsden scoring with a right-footed drive from 20-yards, which was heading towards the top far corner.

Saunders threw on substitute Stuart King and the former Folkestone Invicta striker almost scored with his first touch.

Harley’s precise diagonal low pass (which wasn’t cut out by the advancing Maxted) found Hill, who whipped in a cross towards the far post and King’s downward header bounced agonisingly wide of the foot of the near post.

Overland managed to get his giant frame across to deny Stubbs an equalising goal.  Flisher and substitute King both played the ball inside and Stubbs slid a low left-footed shot towards the bottom corner, but the Faversham stopper dived full-stretch to his left on the deck and stuck out his left arm before gathering the ball into his body.

Maidstone United certainly deserved their equaliser with eleven minutes remaining.

The impressive Hill was the architect down the right and he whipped in another telling ball, which wasn’t headed clear by Bourne and the ball dropped at Alex Brown’s feet, whose left-footed shot clipped Bourne’s leg and slid in to the bottom right-hand corner past a flat-footed keeper, for an own-goal by the 26-year-old defender.

Turner said: “I don’t think Bourney will want to claim that as an own goal! 

“I saw a scramble, it’s dropped in a dangerous area and he’s put it away.  It’s obviously deflected of someone. 

“We’ve defended those scenarios pretty well today.  They’ve certainly tested us in terms of putting balls in our box today and we stood up to that. It was one of those goals that we didn’t get a decent clearance on the first header and it dropped instead of clearing our box but I’m not going to fault him because 90& of the occasions we’ve defended really well. 

“They’ve got a lot of physicality in their side.  They had Booth and Welford on first and then two forwards that came on as well.  They’re different sorts of forward and they’ve going to cause you problems.  They chucked a lot of bodies in the box as is their right when they were chasing the game.”

Saunders added: “I didn’t really see it to be honest.  I think Brownie’s had a shot, it’s come of (a defender) but we deserved to be back in it, but then for the second one we’re pushing and trying to win the game but I’m just disappointed really how we’ve conceded the second goal really.”

The Stones pressed for the winner, but Faversham Town grabbed the victory with 42:13 on the second half clock.

Long-throw specialist Aaron Lacy opted against launching one of his trademark throws into the box, and threw the ball inside to substitute Toby Ashmore, who stabbed the ball back to Lacy, who floated his cross over towards the far post.

Hockton brought the ball under control with his chest from just inside the corner of the box and drilled a low angled right-footed half-volley across Ibrahim to find the bottom far corner to win it.

Saunders said: “Hockers’ was a great finish, but he’s had time to chest in our area and he’s picked his spot and he should’ve have had that much time.” 

Turner said: “I stood right behind it and he still had to deal with the ball that came across. He had to cushion the ball and he’s actually guided the ball on the half-volley just inside, it may have clipped the inside of the post, for his third goal of the campaign.

“I was actually right behind it and you don’t want to celebrate until it’s gone in but it was absolutely perfect. 

“He’s been due a goal and he has been frustrated that he’s not always played the amount of minutes he wanted to. He’s here predominantly as a player-coach and he’s working on that side of the game, but I just fancied him. It’s a big game today. It was an occasion that was right up his street with a big crowd and I just fancied him he might get a goal and it turned out right.”

Turner and Clive Walker have both done a brilliant job to give Faversham Town a chance of promotion.

Turner said: “As a football club, I think every time we’ve been knocked or people might be expecting us to fall by the wayside we’ve responded again and that’s the key. If you show that sort of heart and character then you’ve got every chance of making that top-five.”

Saunders added: “It hurts that we’ve lost the game, but overall it’s down to us really. If you have that much possession and create that many chances you’ve got to take them.  Probably earlier on in the season we’d have taken them. At the moment we’re just snatching at things.

“If you don’t take your chances teams are always in the game.  Faversham kept plugging away and got the win.”

But Saunders insists he will not throw in the towel.

“We’ll try and win them and score as many goals as we can.  There’s no pressure on the lads.  As I’ve said to the players, we can get on with it now and you never know Dulwich might go and lose two or three, but in the form they’re in, I can’t see it so as I said to the boys, if it’s play-offs, it’s play-offs and we go on and try and win the last three.”

Maidstone United: Deren Ibrahim, Tommy Osborne, Jon Harley, Steve Watt, Tommy Mills, Dan Stubbs, Rory Hill, Alex Brown, Shaun Welford (Ade Olorunda 68), Paul Booth (Stuart King 73), Alex Flisher.
Subs: Ian Draycott, Steve Ward, Tony Kessell

Goal:  Matt Bourne 79 (own goal)

Booked: Alex Brown 27

Faversham Town: Simon Overland, Aaron Lacy, Jamie Maxted, David Botterill, Matt Bourne, Ashley Brown, Dan Lawrence (Aidan Sherlock 90), Darren Marsden (Toby Ashmore 87), Danny Hockton, Luke Harvey, Renford Tenyue.
Subs: Kieran Oliver, Wesley Miller

Goals: Luke Harvey 67, Danny Hockton 88

Booked: Matt Bourne 82, David Botterill 85, Aidan Sherlock 90

Attendance: 2,096
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gillingham)
Assistants: Mr Tim Burman (Greenhithe) & Mr Peter Cruise (Sidcup)