Sunday, February 22, 2009 19:43
Beckenham Town 2 Faversham Town 7
By Tony Gray
Match Photographs can be viewed by following the 'Photo Gallery' link at the top of the page
Justin Luchford's Faversham Town returned to winning ways with a stylish away performance at struggling Beckenham Town to maintain their push for promotion.
Having only picked up 1 point from the last six on offer manager Luchford was afforded the luxury of fielding an unchanged team with Craig Thompson starting up front alongside leading goal scorer Damian Abel.
The Lilywhites started brightly against a Beckenham side that have massively under-achieved this season and the chances were soon created for the visitors with Abel, Thompson and Steve O'Brien all going close in the opening minutes of the game.
Beckenham's defence, including former Lilywhite skipper James Holder making his debut, seemed unable to cope with Town's pace as they piled on the pressure with O'Brien and Kris Richardson linking up effectively down the left side of play.
Pressure was converted into goals after 18 minutes, O'Brien's cross from the left being met by a diving header from Thompson at the far post - the former Maidstone United front man netting for the first time in a Lilywhite's shirt.
GET IN THERE.....A diving Craig Thompson looks on as he heads home for the opening goal of the afternoon
Two minutes later and the visitors had doubled their lead in an almost identical manner, O'Brien supplying the cross for Abel to head home past Beck's keeper Michael Holder.
With the bit well and truly between their teeth Town appeared dominant in every position, and with Tom Hickman, Shane Hamshare and Dave Soutan controlling the midfield with their forwards looking dangerous every time they pushed towards goal.
The impressive O'Brien was rewarded for his two earlier assists on 38 minutes as he fired home for goal number three from the edge of the six-yard area following some fine passing play.
The home side's hopes were lifted, momentarily, on 44 minutes as a lapse in concentration by the Town defence allowed Charlie Hearn the space and freedom to pick his spot as his low struck shot found its way past Kevin Readings in the Town goal.
Any signs of a home side revival were cruelly crushed within seconds of the restart, a ball from the left met by the head of Ashley Brown - the centre-back making no mistake as he guided the ball past Holder - O'Brien once again the provider as the Lilywhites went in for the half-time break with an impressive 4 - 1 lead.
ON TARGET.....Steve O'Brien makes no mistake as he adds goal number three for the Lilywhites
Town continued to dictate matters after the break and Abel added a fifth goal for the visitors on the hour mark, a right sided corner kick delivered into the six yard-area where 3 Town players had their attempts blocked before Abel finally stabbed the ball home from close range for his second of the match
The home side clawed a second goal back almost immediately, a goalmouth scramble saw Charlie Side find the net following a rare incursion into the Town area by Beckenham.
A triple substitution on 64 minutes saw Abel, Soutan and Thompson make way for Sean Hetterley, Dave Botterill and Chris Oyebanjo and The Lilywhites despite the change continued to pose a constant threat to the Becks defence when in possession.
Goal number six came on 84 minutes courtesy of an Oyebanjo solo run down the left, after reaching the bye line he looked stranded with limited options before defying the odds by striking the ball home from the most acute of angles in between Holder and his near post.
IN YOU GO.....Ashley Brown watches on as his 44th minute header fly home
The visitors completed the scoring on 86 minutes with O'Brien rounding off a man of the match performance by adding his second of the game, receiving the ball on the left O'Brien's run saw him cut inside the defender to drill the ball home completing a wretched afternoon for keeper Holder and his Beckenham side.
A late rally in the dying minutes saw Readings forced into action pulling off two class saves to deny the home side, and Town ended the match with 10 men with Jamie Sparks leaving the pitch nursing a groin injury
A solid team performance combined with an entertaining display of attacking football keeps the Lilywhites on course for a top four finish as well as keeping the pressure on Hythe and Holmesdale who currently occupy the the positions above Faversham Town in the league.
Town are next in action this coming Tuesday (24th February) when Salters Lane plays host to the visit of 2nd placed Holmesdale, kick-off at 19:45.
Town's Star Man - Steve O'Brien, a solid afternoon's work - two goals scored and played a part in most of the other five.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings (7); Jamie Sparks (7); Kris Richardson (8); Tom Hickman (8); Ashley Brown (7); Lee Shearer (c) (7); Shane Hamshare (8); Damian Abel (8); Craig Thompson (8); Dave Soutan (7); Steve O'Brien (9)
Substitutes: Sean Hetterley (for Thompson 64 minutes) (7); Dave Botterill (for Soutan 64 minutes) (7); Chris Oyebanjo (for Abel 64 minutes) (7); Unused: Rob Hudson; Bradley Doyle