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12th September 2006 By JAMES BROWN Eastbourne United 4 Faversham Town 0 FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Terry Cordice left the retirement capital of Britain with a few extra wrinkles on Saturday. Cordice's new kids on the block were expected to make light work of this first qualifying round of the Carlsberg FA Vase after storming to the top of the Kent League. But they were pensioned off by the young guns of an exciting Eastbourne United side who were 2-0 up inside half an hour and three goals to the good by half-time. Nathan Crabb rose unchallenged to head the opener on six minutes from brother Sam's excellent corner after just six minutes. And Simon Catt made it 2-0 on 28 minutes with a 25-yard free-kick that goalkeeper Tim Holmes could only help into the net. The killer blow came in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Catt broke clear of a square Town defence and finished confidently after going one on one with shell-shocked Holmes. Cordice demanded an improved performance in the second-half but his hopes were dashed inside three minutes when a free-kick on the right was played into the centre where Sam Crabb's shot went in off Bradley Maguire. Town's big day out included a stop-off at a seafront hotel where the players were treated to a pre-match meal by club chiefs. Sadly, they showed more urgency in the battle for possession of the main course than they did during this hugely disappointing encounter. Eastbourne United and Association were formed in 2003 after a merger between Eastbourne United FC and Shinewater Association FC. And coach Steve Latuske revealed that the Sussex side had put their faith in youth this season. Indeed, Mark Warren is their oldest player at just 24 and in 18-year-old Ben Billings they have a real talent. Former Eastbourne Town player Billings was a real menace in a horribly one-sided affair in which Town failed to produce a single effort on target. Ironically, in the face of so many young adversaries the only Faversham player to emerge with any real credit was 36-year-old Paul Copley. The former Welling United defender did not look comfortable in a revised 4-4-2 formation but his spirit and determination lifted him head and shoulders above his younger team-mates. Town were forced to reshuffle with skipper James Holder, sweeper Gary Stock and midfielder Julian Beal all out through suspension. Cordice was also missing injured duo John Goodwin and Dean Abrahams but, even so, they should have put on a better show in their big Vase debut. Town's best chance of the match came and went after just two minutes with Andy Martin gifted possession in the clear just 12 yards out. But the striker was so surprised a defender allowed the ball to run into his path that he scuffed his attempt and ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor. Just four minutes later and Eastbourne were ahead with Nathan Crabb powering home a close range header, helped by the pace of a well-struck corner from brother Sam. Junior Farrell's foul on the mercurial Billings led to the second on 28 minutes although referee Mark Ward seemed to wait an age before finally giving a free-kick 25 yards out. Indeed, the delay was a good deal longer than the time it took Catt to let fly with a right-foot drive that Holmes will be disappointed not to have tipped round the post. Catt was full of confidence and hit the top of the bar five minutes later with a superb volley on the turn. He enjoyed better luck just seconds before the interval when a ball over the top left him in acres of space and he found a way past Holmes with a confident finish. Eastbourne were gifted a fourth on 48 minutes when Holmes made the bizarre decision to catch a back-pass from Copley and Ward awarded a free-kick on the right, dangerously close to goal. The ball was played square and the scramble that followed ended with Sam Crabb's shot taking a deflection off Maguire and into the net beyond Holmes. Dane Luchford produced a rare opening for Town, scampering down the right after Martin's ball but his cross into the danger area went unconverted. The damage had already been done and Town's FA Vase adventure was over before it had begun. Town's Top Man: Paul Copley - the only player to show any spirit Tim Holmes 4, Bradley Maguire 4, Jason Mills 5, Wes Hamond 5, Junior Farrell 4, Paul Copley 6, Dave Hockley 5, Steve Aslett 4, Andy Martin 6, Kris Parker 6, Dane Luchford 5. Substitutes: Anthony Pace (for Luchford, 63 minutes) 5, Mark Smith (for Maguire, 63) 6, Lee Whitehead (for Farrell, 74) 6.
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