Staines Town 2-2 Faversham Town - It will be fantastic to try to progress the club to a place it’s never been before, says proud Faversham boss Ray Turner

Staines Town 2 – 2 Faversham Town
Location	Wheatsheaf Park, Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines, Middlesex TW18 2PD
Kickoff	12/09/2015 15:00

STAINES TOWN  2-2  FAVERSHAM TOWN
The FA Cup First Qualifying Round (Sponsored by Emirates)
Saturday 12^th September 2015
Stephen McCartney reports from Wheatsheaf Lane

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Ray Turner says he feels proud of his players’ after they got a second bite of the cherry with Staines Town in The FA Cup.

The Lilywhites went into this First Qualifying Round tie sitting in third-place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 16 points from 8 games, while Nicky Forster’s Swans were fourteenth in the Ryman Premier League with 11 points from their eight league outings.

Faversham Town raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 11 minutes through headed goals from Jamie Maxted and Dean Grant and they had chances to ease into a 4-0 lead but for home keeper Jack Turner.

Former Dulwich Hamlet winger Luke Wanadio’s screamer pulled a goal back just before half-time before Ahmed Abdulla nodded home an equaliser to force a Tuesday night replay at Salters Lane.

“Pretty proud of the boys to be honest.  I think I can take an awful lot out of the way we responded when they pegged us back to two-all,” said Faversham’s boss Turner afterwards.

“It took an absolute wonder strike from them to get back in the game. I thought we were controlling the game at 2-0 up but there was a momentum shift to get to two-all quite early.  They probably fancied their chances so to stand firm and to maybe turn the game back to them again a little bit towards the end of the second half, that’s where I’m going to take the most pride out of the performance.”

Staines Town have recent FA Cup history, taking Millwall to two games to be knocked out of the Second Round in 2009, while losing 5-0 at local League club Brentford in the First Round in 2013.

Turner admitted: “It’s a big club. It wasn’t the kindest of draws but the environment worked for us and inspired us. 

“I thought it was an excellent start. A lot of boys were very disappointed in our display (losing 1-0 at home to Herne Bay) on Tuesday night, myself included and we had a few words in our dressing room.

“I think they showed a bit more about what Faversham’s about. We haven’t got the resources of a club like this but we’ve got a team that works hard and goes to try to earn results and we’ve done it today.”

Turner, who was without central defender John Scarborough and winger Charley Robertson, who were both attending weddings, while David Botterill was relegated to the bench and made a cameo role at the end.

And on a warm and sunny day at Wheatsheaf Lane, Faversham Town stunned Staines Town, whose six-year membership of Conference South came to an end in April, by taking the lead after only three minutes and 45 seconds.

Australian midfielder Wayne Wilson drove in his right-footed free-kick into the penalty area and an unmarked Maxted planted his header into the roof of the net (over Jack Turner’s left shoulder) from 15-yards.

Turner said: “Well executed. We know about Wayne’s delivery. The run was great, they were nowhere near him in terms of defensive side but that’s not my problem!

“I think they looked vulnerable all day from set-pieces so hopefully it’s something we can exploit on Tuesday night but he finished it off really well so we couldn’t have got a better start and a better lift for the boys.”

Staines Town threw bodies forward as they searched for an equaliser and Abdulla sliced his shot from the corner of the box across goal and Faversham put their bodies on the line as the ball pin-balled around their penalty area.

Faversham Town doubled their lead with 10 minutes and 42 seconds on the clock.

Right-back Ryan Cooper hit a 50-yard long ball up to striker Stuart King, who brought the ball down under control before cutting inside and floating a cross towards the penalty spot where Grant nipped in front of his marker to direct his header into the bottom right-hand corner.

Turner said: “He had a little bit more pressure on him.  I think he had some pressure from behind but he got in front of the defender.

“Kingy’s put a lovely ball in and he stuck it into the bottom corner.  In terms of execution of headers, you couldn’t ask for more than two better examples!

“I think we deserved it,” he said of his side’s early 2-0 lead.

“We were well in control of the game.  Our game management was good. I thought we was in a pretty good position but perhaps needed to come in at half-time 2-0 up. That would’ve given us a big boost.  I didn’t really see them scoring, I’ve got to be honest, in the first half.”

Faversham Town were winning plenty of second balls in and around their penalty area as the home players’ and fans in a crowd of 188 were left shell-shocked.

Faversham Town were to be denied a third goal after 25 minutes.

Goalkeeper Robert French, who plucked crosses out of the air for fun during the entire game, launched a big kick down the middle and a mistake by Staines’ central defender Joe O’Cearvill let in Grant. 

Grant cut into the penalty area and unselfishly looked up to roll the ball out of the penalty area to Redford Tenyue, who was defending more inside his half than attacking the final third.

But on this occasion, he controlled the ball, sped past right-back Erivaldo Felix and reached the corner of the six-yard box and his left-footed shot from a tight angle was blocked by Jack Turner’s right leg at his near post.

A couple of corners later, Jack Turner made another fine save.

Wilson swung in the ball from the right with his trademark accuracy and Matthew Bourne came up from the back to stroke his first time drive towards goal, but the keeper made a fine save to his right.

“We had an even better chance when he saved from Bourney with his legs,” added the Faversham manager.”

Staines Town got into some good areas during the first half but lacked any quality to call French into making serious saves.

A long throw from Cooper sailed over to Tenyue, who was lurking on the edge of the Staines’ penalty area, but he sliced his left-footed volley past the left-hand post from 25-yards.

Staines Town’s first chance arrived in the 34^th minute when Wanadio issued Maxted a warning, blasting his right-footed drive over the bar from 25-yards.

Maxted then bundled over Wanadio, but French caught an inswinging free-kick from the corner of the penalty area from Staines’ left-back Jack Bennett, the former Margate player, along with Wanadio the only two players in old gold shirts that impressed.

Grant blasted a speculative right-footed volley high and wide from 35-yards, before Staines Town pulled a goal back through a quality finish from Wanadio with 40 minutes and 41 seconds on the clock.

Abdulla, who was playing in the hole behind five-goal striker Pat Cox, floated a cross from the middle over Maxted’s head.  The ball was brought under control by Wanadio’s chest before cracking a beautiful right-footed volley over French’s right shoulder and into the top far corner of the net from the right-hand corner of the box (15-yards) .

“They had a dangerous right-winger and he came up with an absolute wonder goal, which suddenly gave them a spark going in to half-time,” said Turner.

“It’s tough on us because we deserved to go in a couple of goals up.

“You always hate conceding goals and sometimes you’re always looking for someone to blame but in this case you’ve just got to say it’s a fantastic goal!

“If he meant to do that, he hit across it and put it into the opposite top corner then fair play to him.”

Faversham Town were awarded a free-kick some 40-yards from goal, Wilson’s right-footed speculative shot bouncing into Jack Turner’s gloves.  The keeper wears a pink shirt to support his mother’s cancer charity.

Maxted pumped a long ball out of defence up towards Bennett, who hesitated inside his half and allowed Grant to latch onto the loose ball before driving forward.  He fed the ball to quiet winger Taser Hassan, but his cross-shot from the right bounced into Turner’s hands at his near post.

Staines Town were denied an undeserved equaliser inside the fifth minute of time added on.

The impressive Bennett fed Abdulla down the left, who cut into the penalty area before he poked his shot towards the bottom corner, which French dived low to his right to make a comfortable save.

Turner said: “It was a soft shot. You expect Frenchy to save it but you’re right, I think if we’d have got the third goal that would’ve killed the game off before half-time.

“They’re a dangerous side, they’ve got some good players.  Obviously coming away to a Ryman Prem club that as you say has got Conference South set-up, so we had to dig-in a little bit but we expected that and I’m pleased with the boys.”

But Faversham Town deserved to go into the break with a 2-1 lead, but their manager admitted Wanadio’s second goal of the season shifted momentum towards the hosts.

He said: “I was always wary of any momentum shifts in the game.  By them scoring late in the first half kind of did my team talk for me really because I said we’re in for a right battle second half. 

“They’re obviously going to come at us. We were well prepared. It’s a case of staying calm and still try to go forward as much as we could because I still felt they were vulnerable at times on the breakaway and it proved to be.”

Staines Town enjoyed plenty of possession inside Faversham’s half while the Kent side struggled to get the ball up to King and Grant up the other end of the pitch during the second half.

Staines Town grabbed an equaliser 8 minutes and 46 seconds into the second half through Abdulla’s first goal of the season since his move from National League South club Whitehawk.

Abdulla started the move when he played the ball to Cox, who swept the ball out wide to Wanadio out on the right.

Staines’ best player of the game put over a deep cross from right to left and Bennett did brilliantly to loop his header back where it came from towards the far post where Abdulla couldn’t miss from inches, nodding his header into the near corner of the net.

Turner said: “Again, it’s a hard one to be over-critical because I don’t think he meant to hit such a looping cross to the back post.

“The guy who has tried to head it back has done a good job. It’s gone straight up in the air and (via Abdulla’s head) it’s dropped inside the far post.

“It’s a poor time obviously, nine minutes into the second half. It then becomes a long half so it’s about our organisation, our discipline and character of the side.”

Faversham Town rode the storm and ventured forward in the 58^th minute but Jack Turner stooped down at his far post to clutch the ball as Hassan whipped in a teasing low cross from the right after Cooper fed Grant down the right.

But Staines Town started to press for a winner, while Faversham Town held firm with Matthew Bourne being partnered by home-grown Daniel Carrington at the heart of defence.

 “We’re a club that’s developing young players. If you look at our under 21 record in the last couple of years, you can see we’ve been very successful and we need to do that as a club,” explained Turner.

“We can’t necessarily go out and bring experienced players in, so it’s lovely to bring players into the fold that have been part of the set-up for a while.

“Brad Webb’s one of them and Daniel Carrington’s one of them and that’s really pleasing for a manager to see players make the graduation and step up into first team football.

“Dan’s a very talented footballer and he was a man today and he stood up to everything that they threw at him, making decisions and I think he had an excellent game.”

Staines Town’s best two players combined in the 63^rd minute.  Wanadio whipped in a cross towards the far post but Bennett glanced his header past the left-hand post.

Staines’ left-winger Michael Kalu showed more desire to reach a potential hospital pall before sliding Bradley King, who was now on the pitch for Faversham Town down the right hand side.

Kalu sped into the penalty area before floating over a cross, but the quiet Cox reached the ball before Bourne to hook his shot past the left-hand post.

Bennett drilled a low shot which deflected past the post from 20-yards after Cox rolled the ball into his path after more excellent wing play from Wanadio.

But Faversham Town rode the storm and created three great chances inside the final fifteen minutes to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the third year on the spin.

The Lilywhites were awarded a free-kick down the right channel and Wilson whipped in another great delivery with his right foot towards the far post.  Maxted rose and planted his header over the bar from eight-yards, putting his head in his hands as the chance went begging.

“It was an easier chance than his first goal,” admitted Turner.

“He’s very good from set-pieces and he goes to attack the ball but I know he’ll be disappointed that he hasn’t scored the winner.”

Wilson then delivered a corner from the left which was cleared out to Webb, who took a touch and steered his right-footed shot rolling towards the far corner, which Swans keeper Jack Turner stuck out his left foot to make a match-saving block.

The Faversham manager added: “It could’ve gone anywhere. These are times when you need a little bit to go your way. He had no real control, the keeper, where that was going and it managed to bounce to safety fortunately for him and a bit unfortunate for us.”

Staines Town won six of their 11 corners during the second half and French and his defensive line were excellent in protecting their share of the spoils.

But Staines Town squandered an excellent chance to snatch victory with three minutes remaining.

Holding midfielder Jeremy Boakye swept the ball out to Wanadio, who beat two men and cut the ball inside to Cox, who smashed his first time shot over the bar from six-yards.

Faversham Town could have won it at the death too, when King floated over a cross from the left-hand corner of the penalty area but Grant got underneath the ball to direct his header over the crossbar from six-yards.

Turner added: “Kingy picked him out really well. The way we finished strongly,  that’s pleasing.  I know they had a few corners themselves but I think we dealt with everything really well.”

Turner revealed that Scarborough and Robertson will be added to his squad for Tuesday’s night replay.

He said: “With Charley and John coming back into the fold that makes us stronger hopefully. Let’s hope we can turn that into a positive result and a win down at Faversham.

“I hope we can take that (performance) into Tuesday night because it’s a different environment entirely at Faversham as you know and hopefully we can make it as difficult as possible.

“It’s always been a great ambition of mine (of having a run in The FA Cup). We haven’t got a great Cup pedigree at Faversham and I don’t think the draws have been very kind in the last few years.  I particularly remember beating Leatherhead at this stage last year and getting pitched up against (Conference South) Maidenhead away.

“We have to deal with this lot and they’re not suddenly walk over and roll over on Tuesday night so we’ve got to be even better and if we can be even better, if we can improve and we’ve got a chance Tuesday. 

“It will be fantastic to try to progress the club to a place it’s never been before.”

Turner has urged Faversham Town supporters to turn out in force on Tuesday night for only the Lilywhites second game against Staines Town.

He said: “I hope we get some supporters there. I think the support has been a bit down in the first few games. I hope they recognise the boys achievements today. I hope they really come out in force to support the boys.

“Night games at Faversham are good experiences I find, apart from Tuesday (against Herne Bay) and the boys know the environment well, they know the pitch well and I’m hoping we can work really hard and try earn a really good result on Tuesday.”

If Faversham’s defence can keep Wanadio quiet at Salters Lane, then they’ve got one hell of a chance of progressing.

Turner said: “They’re always going to be dangerous. They look a side that’s going to be very good on the breakaway away from home. That may suit them as well so we have to be wary of that.  They’ve got a lot of pace in key areas, in wide areas so we have to temper the enthusiasm and make sure we’re organised and make sure we’re not vulnerable on the break.

“I didn’t quite give you a shock unfortunately. It’s a shame but overall the feeling of pride today. We’ve restored that and I’ve got the performance I wanted after Tuesday night.”

Staines Town: Jack Turner, Erivaldo Felix, Jack Bennett, Jeremy Boakye, Mitchal Gough, Joe O’Cearuill, Luke Wanadio, Ashley Lodge (Jack Hutchinson 65), Pat Cox, Ahmed Abdulla, Michael Kalu (Prince M’Bengui 80).
Subs: Harry Churchill, Aaron Okuleye, Callum McAllister, Lewis Collins, Tommy Brewer

Goals: Luke Wanadio 41, Ahmed Abdulla 54

Booked: Michael Kalu 45

Faversham Town: Robert French, Ryan Cooper, Jamie Maxted, Wayne Wilson, Matthew Bourne, Daniel Carrington, Taser Hassan (Bradley Webb 60), George Monger, Dean Grant, Stuart King, Renford Tenyue (David Botterill 89).
Subs: Mobolaji Dawodu, Daniel King, Thomas Benham

Goals: Jamie Maxted 4, Dean Grant 11

Booked: Wayne Wilson 63, Jamie Maxted 70, Ryan Cooper 86

Attendance: 188
Referee: Mr Michael Lowe (Reigate, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Senior (Lingfield, Surrey) & Mr Garry Worrell (Thornton Heath, Surrey)