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17th October 2006 By JAMES BROWN Erith Town 0 Faversham Town 1 WES HAMMOND'S second goal in successive games gave Faversham Town victory at the Erith Sports Centre.
SECOND OF THE
WEEK.....Town No.4 Wes Hammond about to double his goal tally Hammond opened his account for the Lilywhites in the 2-1 win over Deal Town in the Kent League Cup on Wednesday last week. And he was at it again just after the half hour in south-east London with a clinical finish from eight yards as Town maintained a two-point cushion in third place of the Premier Division. Centre-half Hammond , 21, has proved one of Faversham's best signings of last summer, producing a string of excellent performances at the heart of the defence. And he looks pretty good in front of goal too, powering home on the volley after a trademark long throw from Michael Seager bounced invitingly just outside the six-yard box. Yet boss Terry Cordice was to endure a frustrating afternoon as Town failed to build on their slender advantage. Cordice sprang a surprise before kick-off, naming central midfielder Julian Beal at sweeper just four days after asking his former skipper to play right-back against Deal. But the experienced Beal responded to the challenge by producing an accomplished performance behind Holder and Hammond in the absence of Gary Stock who was unavailable. Chances at the start of each half provided pretty accurate snap-shots of Town's day.
GOALMOUTH
SCRAMBLE.....Erith Town in defensive mode First, Wayne "Junior" Farrell opted to send in a shot that was blocked when Andy Martin was better placed to let fly with just six minutes on the watch. Then ten minutes into the second half and Farrell's excellent cross from the right picked out Graham Taylor. But Town's new striker decided to try to control the ball instead of head for goal and by the time he took aim the shot was closed down. Taylor had another shot blocked after a decent 10th-minute move with Steve Aslett's corner finding James Holder who picked out Kris Parker. He teed up strike partner Taylor but the path to goal was littered with Erith bodies. The home side offered little all afternoon but when they did threaten, player-manager Mark Tompkins was always likely to be involved.
Town's Steve Aslett takes on the Erith defence And the home side really should have gone ahead on 25 minutes when Darren Nash somehow sent a free header over the top after a driven cross from Tompkins. James Holder shot wide on the burst after a Taylor lay-off and then Tompkins fired straight at Tim Holmes in the Faversham goal. Town then enjoyed a decent spell with Farrell sweeping a ball across the face of goal from Beal's short corner. Holder collected on the opposite touchline and bundled the ball past Darren Pruce before whipping in another dangerous ball only for the whistle to blow for an infringement in the area. Holder's free-kick following a foul on Parker 25 yards out was palmed away by goalkeeper Nick Wilson as the Lilywhites turned the screw. And they were well worth Hammond's 32nd-minute goal, the former Margate defender lashing home from eights yards. Taylor's early chance aside, neither side threatened for the majority of the second half with James Holder going off with hamstring trouble to be replaced by Richard Gamble just a couple of minutes after sending a header well over the top. Dave Hockley had already come on for Mark Smith at that stage but Town still made heavy weather creating chances against a side that have yet to win at home all season. Erith had a couple of crosses that kept Holmes on his toes before Farrell finally took on left back Jamie Lover on the outside with predictably devastating results.
Wayne "Junior" Farrell battling in front of the Erith goal The 18-year-old, who has pace to burn, stormed clear before unleashing a great shot that Wilson did well to hold. How he would have loved a first goal for Faversham Town. Instead, he finished with his first-ever yellow card after then latching on to a through ball and taking a shot after the referee's whistle for offside. There was still time for Andy Martin to blast wide and for boss Cordice to deliver a 94th-minute cameo, making two decent clearances, as Town worked hard to protect that slender lead. Town's Top Man: Julian Beal - another game, another position, another cracker Tim Holmes 6, Junior Farrell 6, Michael Seager 6, Wes Hammond 7, James Holder 6, Julian Beal 8, Mark Smith 6, Steve Aslett 7, Graham Taylor 6, Andy Martin 6, Kris Parker 7. Substitutes: Dave Hockley (for Smith, 62 minutes), Richard Gamble (for Holder, 71) 6, Terry Cordice (for Farrell, 94) Not on long enough to rate.
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