Sunday, March 22, 2009 22:38
Sporting Bengal 1 Faversham Town 3
By Tony Gray
Faversham Town traveled to London's East End to face Sporting Bengal determined not to be the first side to drop points against a Bengal side without a point after 28 matches this season.
Dave Soutan returned to the side following his recent suspension whilst Carl Hodgson started as Goalkeeper with Kevin Readings unavailable for selection.
Both sides started brightly but first blood fell to the Lilywhites who opened the scoring on 14 minutes with Craig Thompson heading home past Ian Whitmore.
Thompson almost doubled the lead a minute later as he connected with a Dane Luchford cross only to see his header fly wide of Whitmore's near post.
Memories of Town's 10 - 0 drubbing of Sporting Bengal earlier in the season were soon erased as the home side hit back to level the score after 23 minutes.
A lovely cross field pass from Benjamin Schmitt found Johik Miah in space on the left side of play, Miah neatly cut inside his defender before sending a left footed strike high into the top right of Hodgson's goal giving the Town youngster no chance.
The Lilywhites hit back straight away to regain the advantage - top scorer Damian Abel firing home from the left side of the area for his 18th goal of the season.
Thompson found the net again on 26 minutes, lifting the ball over Whitmore only to see referee Graham Ions rule the goal out following Thompson's challenge on the keeper.
Goal number three for the visitors came on 32 minutes, a corner kick into the box saw an attempted clearance deflect off of the unfortunate Sadique Ali.
Sporting almost pulled a goal back before half-time, Jamalur Ahmed managing to beat the offside trap only to see his effort fly narrowly wide of the target.
The second half saw Town continue to dominate proceedings although the home side did manage, on occasion, to play some attractive football.
Thompson went close for Town on 50 minutes before Hodgson pulled off a brave stop at the other end, diving at the feet of Schmitt to deny what would have been a goal scoring chance for the Bengal striker.
Manager Justin Luchford changed things around with Jamie Sparks coming on to replace Soutan on 58 minutes.
Further chances fell to the visitors, Abel had a shot blocked on 66 minutes and went close again on 70 minutes - his shot on goal blocked with the rebound falling to Luchford whose strike was denied by the woodwork.
A double substitution on 75 minutes saw Abel and Dave Botterill replaced by Chris Oyebanjo and Sean Hetterley respectively as the Lilywhites continued to create chances whilst failing to convert any of their efforts into goals.
Thompson, Lee Shearer and Oyebanjo all had chances that, on another day, might have gone in before referee called time on an entertaining and frustrating afternoon at the Mile End Stadium.
Town are next in action this coming Tuesday evening as Salters Lane hosts the second leg of the Premier Division Cup semi-final against Croydon, kick-off at 19:45.
Town's Star Man: Craig Thompson, lively performance and a well taken goal.
Faversham Town: Carl Hodgson (7); Shane Hamshare (6); Kris Richardson (6); Tom Hickman (6); Ashley Brown (6); Lee Shearer (c) (6); Dave Botterill (6); Damian Abel (7); Craig Thompson (8); Dave Soutan (6); Dane Luchford (6).
Substitutes: Jamie Sparks (for Soutan 58 minutes ) (6); Chris Oyebanjo (for Abel 74 minutes) (6); Sean Hetterley (for Botterill 74 minutes) (6); Unused: Rob Hudson; Chris Eather.